The Catalan regional parliament has voted to declare Independence from Spain, while the Spanish Parliament has approved direct rule over the region.
Catalan MPs backed the motion 70-10 in a ballot boycotted by the Opposition.
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy had told senators direct rule was needed to return “law, democracy and stability” to Catalonia. The crisis began when Catalans backed independence in a disputed vote earlier this month.
Meanwhile, later in the night, Rajoy said he is dissolving the Catalan Parliament and calling for a regional election on December 21.
On Thursday, Catalan President Carles Puigdemont opted against declaring Independence or calling early elections, instead calling on MPs to decide.
A motion declaring Independence was approved on Friday with 70 in favour, 10 against, and two abstentions in the 135-seat chamber. The measure calls for the transfer of legal powers from Spain to an independent Catalonia.
But the Spanish Constitutional Court is likely to declare it illegal, and key international powers including Germany, the EU and the US back the Spanish position.
Puigdemont has called for supporters to “maintain the momentum” in a peaceful
manner.
Soon after the vote at the regional Parliament, the Senate — Spain’s Upper House — made the unprecedented step of approving measures allowing the Spanish Government to impose direct rule over Catalonia. There were 214 votes in favour and 47 against.
Urging calm, Rajoy said, “Spain is a serious country, it is a great nation and we are not prepared in any way to allow some people to liquidate our constitution.”
He will hold a cabinet meeting shortly to decide what measures to take.
It could include the firing of Catalan leaders, and the Spanish Government taking control of the region’s
finances, police and publicly owned media.
Shares in Catalan banks closed down, dragging the entire stock market with
them, after Catalonia's regional Parliament declared Independence.
Meanwhile, the US, France, Germany, the UK and the EU have backed Madrid.