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17:33, 18-Oct-2017
Spain to seek suspension of Catalonia's autonomy unless leader backs down
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Spain will seek to suspend Catalonia's autonomy unless the region's leader abandons his push for independence, Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said Wednesday, 24 hours before Madrid's deadline.
If separatist leader Carles Puigdemont does not provide a satisfactory response Thursday, "Mr Puigdemont will provoke the application of article 155 of the constitution," Saenz de Santamaria told parliament.
This provision of the constitution -- which has never been used before -- would open the way for Madrid to impose direct rule over the semi-autonomous region and could escalate Spain's worst political crisis in decades.
Source(s): AFP