Spanish Government dismisses the Catalan president and counselors

USPA NEWS - The Spanish Government will dismiss the Catalan government and assume from the next October 28 the administration of Catalonia. The Government of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy decided this Saturday, in an emergency meeting, to approve the measures to take to repay the legality in Catalonia.

In addition, the Government of Mariano Rajoy cut competencies of the regional Parliament of Catalonia, in response to attempt of the regional Catalan government ignore the law, breaking the law and change the law “and that this is made pretending to impose their criteria to others.“ Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said Saturday, after the emergency meeting of his Cabinet, that “no suspended autonomy“ of Catalonia, is ceases to people who have been Catalonia to this situation. Suspension affects the president of the regional government of Catalonia and all their counselors. Their functions will be taken over by the Spanish Government ministries. At the same time, Spanish Government limited competencies of regional Parliament of Catalonia, which may not propose a new presidential candidate to Catalan government and can be dissolved by the Spanish Government to convene regional elections.

“‹Mariano Rajoy assured that the Spanish Government "has had to apply article 155 of the Constitution", although "it was neither our desire nor our intention." He added that the article, which "only applies in exceptional circumstances," has been necessary because "no democratic country can accept that the law be ignored, that the law be changed and that all this be done by pretending to impose its criteria on the the rest."

Regarding the objectives of the decision that the Spanish Government has taken this Saturday, the president has pointed out that there are four of them: "Recovering legality, returning to normalcy and coexistence, continuing the recovery of the economy and holding elections. legality is to restore the validity of the Spanish Constitution and the Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia." The Spanish Prime Minister has also listed the measures that are put in place after the activation of Article 155. Firstly, it will request the "cessation of the president of the regional government of Catalonia, the vice president and the councilors that make up the Council of Government of Catalonia." He added that "the exercise of these functions will correspond to the organs or authorities that the Government of the nation creates or designates for that purpose, in principle, the idea will be that the ministries assume this responsibility throughout the term in which this exceptional situation lasts."

He also pointed out that the regional government of Catalonia "will continue to function as an ordinary administrative organization," although "it will act under the directives of the organs or authorities created or appointed by the Government of the Nation." Mariano Rajoy added that the power to dissolve "the Parliament of Catalonia passes to the president of the Government" and that "within a maximum period of six months" elections should be held. Nevertheless, he has clarified that his will is "to do so as soon as we recover the institutional normality."

As for the Catalan Parliament, "it will exercise the representative role it has entrusted", but also a series of control measures are proposed "to ensure that the Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia and the Constitution are fully respected." Among other things, it will not be able to propose any candidate for the Presidency of the Catalan government or hold any investiture session or take decisions contrary to constitutional legality. In any case, Spanish president Mr. Rajoy clarified that "autonomy and self-government of Catalonia are not suspended, people who have put that self-government outside the law and the Constitution and the Statute are stopped." That is, self-government is recovered "for legality and for the coexistence of all Catalans, not just the independentists."

The president of the Spanish Government has expressly referred to the economic consequences that this process may have for Catalonia because "the latest data we know are worrisome." As it has announced, more than 1,000 companies have already moved their headquarters outside Catalonia and, in addition, have "discouraged investments" and "tourism has been discouraged." In this sense, he has asked companies not to leave Catalonia because "we can rest easy because this will be fixed and without further harm to anyone."

In addition, Mr. Rajoy explained what would happen "if Catalonia becomes independent". Among other things, he added, "would abandon the European Union and the World Trade Organization," would lose "all the facilities provided by the European Central Bank," there would be a "serious problem of credit crunch" and "disproportionate inflation would occur with consequent effects on consumption and investment." As noted, "all this would lead to an impoverishment of the economy of Catalonia between 25 and 30% of GDP."