Catalonia Will Declare Independence If Spain Suspends Autonomy

Spanish Officials Suggest Suspension Could Come Within Days

Catalan President Carles Puigdemont told ruling party officials within the breakaway region that the intention is to declare full independence from Spain immediately if the Spanish government makes any move to suspend their autonomy.

Puigdemont signed a declaration of independence last week, but immediately suspended the declaration, pending talks. Spanish officials have threatened to seize the entire region and revoke autonomy in retaliation.

This could happen quickly, as Spanish Premier Mariano Rajoy suggested the seizure of Catalonia would happen Thursday, and would be completed by 10 a.m. if Puigdemont doesn’t disavow all claims of Catalan independence.

Though this is an unprecedented move by the Spanish government, those familiar with the nation’s constitutional law say that a move to impose direct rule would still take 3-5 days to totally revoke the region’s autonomy. This gives Puigdemont several days to decide how to respond.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.