Politics
15:57, 28-Oct-2017
Spain takes over Catalan government, deputy PM handed control of region
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The Spanish government has stripped Catalonia of its autonomy and has officially taken charge of its government.
An official state bulletin said control of the region has been handed to Spain’s deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria.
The central government also dismissed regional leader Carles Puigdemont as well as all regional government members.
The move came after the Catalan parliament voted to declare independence on Friday afternoon.
Earlier on Saturday, Madrid also fired the operational chief of Catalonia's police force Jose Lluis Trapero, according to the official government gazette.
In response to Catalonia's independence announcement, the Spanish government imposed direct rule on Friday and called for regional elections scheduled for 21 December.
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