Catalonia's push for independence from Spain: What to know (Report)

The Spanish central government moved Saturday to invoke a never-before used constitutional article that would strip Catalonia of its autonomous power, calling it a last resort to “restore order.” 

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said he wants his Senate to give him direct power to dissolve the regional Catalan government and to call an early election as soon as possible. The Senate is likely to approve Rajoy’s request.

Rajoy’s Cabinet met in a special meeting Saturday morning to approve measures to take direct control of the Catalan region under Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution.

Rajoy proposed the powers of Catalan officials be taken over by central government ministers. 

The meeting came almost three weeks after a controversial referendum seeking the region’s independence, which was later ruled illegal by the country’s Supreme Court.

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