First international reactions to independence
Germany, US and UK refuse to recognize the new Catalan Republic while Belgium calls for a "peaceful solution"
Politics
Politics news from Catalonia and Barcelona
Tusk asks Spanish government to “favour force of argument, not argument of force”
The president of the European Council says that “for EU nothing changes” after the declaration of independence and that Spain “remains the only interlocutor”
Rajoy asks Spaniards “to stay calm” and says he will
Spanish ministers meets in the Senate, sources say they will react with " composure"
Catalan Parliament declares independence
Resolution declaring independent Catalan republic passed with 70 votes in favor, 10 against and 2 abstentions
Lawmakers bring independence declaration to Catalan parliament floor
They intend to vote on motion with measures to legitimize Catalan state immediately
‘There’s no alternative,’ says Rajoy in his defense of the enforcement of Article 155 in the Senate
Most lawmakers applaud the Spanish government when he announces that the measures include removing all Catalan government members
Independence declaration and direct rule set to clash
Catalan Parliament and Spanish Senate expected to hold contradictory votes at the same time
Catalan Parliament to vote on a response to Madrid takeover
The session will continue into Friday with a declaration of independence back on the table
Spanish Vice President defends Article 155 in Senate
Mariano Rajoy’s deputy tells upper house that clause to suspend Catalonia’s self-rule will see return to “legality, coexistence and harmony”
Declaration of independence back on the table - Puigdemont won't call early election
Catalan Parliament meeting at 6pm to decide next steps as Spain votes to suspend self-rule in the Senate
European Confederation of Police calls for “political solution” to crisis
In a document released on Thursday, the organization condemned the use of police in order to “enforce a solution”
Spanish police confiscate official documentation to be incinerated by Mossos
The Catalan police emphasize that all official documentation is stored digitally, and that the practice of incinerating paperwork is ordinary
Catalan public media defend their ‘plurality and veracity’
Directors of Catalan public media say that "the threat of a takeover" attacks “citizens’ rights to have truthful, objective, plural and balanced information”
Catalan president to call for elections today
Puigdemont took the decision after yesterday and today’s meetings with government ministers and JxSí lawmakers
Catalan government meets to decide if it will declare independence
Catalan president, government ministers and JxSí lawmakers meet to outline the next steps to be taken after Catalan self-rule suspension
Latest updates and breaking news on politics and political affairs from Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, and Europe. Keep up to date with the territorial crisis and Catalonia’s independence push, stories from the Catalan government and parliament, latest developments in the Spanish government, and the decisions in Europe that affect our shores too.