Spain to suspend Catalonia's autonomy in response to the successful democratic referendum

Spain’s central government said on Thursday it would suspend Catalonia’s autonomy and impose direct rule after the democratic referendum of October 1st where a 90 % voted yes for independence. Catalan president announced he will go ahead with a formal declaration of independence if Madrid refused to hold talks. Carles Puigdemont says the result is binding and must be obeyed but hopes Madrid will open dialogue before to vote independence in the Parliament.  “If the government continues to impede dialogue and continues with the repression, the Catalan parliament could proceed, if it is considered opportune, to vote on a formal declaration of independence,” Puigdemont said.

The central government in Madrid on Thursday quickly responded that it would begin the legal procedures to implement Article 155 of the Spain’s 1978 constitution, which allows it to seize control of the regional government, finances and police. Madrid announced a meeting of ministers for an “extraordinary” session on Saturday to approve the measure.
Such a move would be unprecedented in Spain’s 40 years since the end of the Francisco Franco dictatorship and, in fact, will return Catalonia to the Franco's age. Curiously the Spanish parties PP & PSOE who agree to take over Catalan language public media as well as the Catalan police: have only  25 over 135 MPs in Catalonia and 106 over 829 mayors.