BBC: Catalans Declare Independence as Madrid Imposes Direct Rule

Catalan voters chose to seek independence from Spain in a special referendum and the Catalan regional parliament soon followed suit with 70 members in favor, 10 opposed, two abstained and more than 50 members not indicating a position. The Spanish Constitutional Court is expected to rule the regional parliament’s decision as illegal. Spain has responded by approving direct rule over the region, eliminating autonomy and dissolving the regional parliament. About 43 percent of eligible voters participated in the referendum and the region has a sizable group opposing demands for independence. “Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy had told senators direct rule was needed to return ‘law, democracy and stability’ to Catalonia,’” reports BBC News. Key members of the European Union are rejecting independence for Catalonia and supporting Spain and “European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said the EU ‘doesn't need any more cracks, more splits.’" Democracies must learn to work out their differences. – YaleGlobal