(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) KUWAIT, Oct 27 (KUNA) -- Europe rejected Catalonia's unilteral independence, which was announced by the Spanish province's parliament earlier today, forcing Madrid to invoke Article 155 of the Constitution to take control of administration of the breakaway province.
Germany said it would not recognize Catalonia's regional parliament's independence announcement, and that it was closely following the developments in the province.
Britain also said it would not recognize the unilateral declaration of independence of Catalonia.
The independence declaration is based on a referendum deemed by the Spanish courts as illegal, a government spokesman said.
He said Britain wanted to see the rule of law, compliance with the constitution and unity of Spain.
French President Emmanuel Macron said he was fully behind the Spanish government in opposing a bid for independence by the Province of Catalonia.
Macron, who is on a visit to French Guyana in Latin America, told the press that the Spanish authorities led by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy had his "full support" to apply "the Rule of Law" and he added that he had only "one partner in Spain," the Spanish Prime Minister, "France Info" radio reported.
Macron, who has supported the Madrid government throughout the Catalan crisis, said that the constitutional rules must be respected in Spain.
European Council president Donald Tusk called on Spain not to use force in Catalonia, after the region's parliament declared independence, and Madrid announced it was imposing direct rule from Saturday.
"For EU nothing changes. Spain remains our only interlocutor. I hope the Spanish government favours force of argument, not argument of force," tweeted Tusk.
The Catalan parliament on Friday declared the region independent from Spain, a move that will further stoke the already high tension between in Catalonia and Madrid.
Parliament Speaker Carme Forcadell declared establishing the "Catalonian independent and sovereign republic" that is willing to engage in the civil society as soon as possible.
The independence motion was passed in the 135-strong assembly with 70 votes in favor, 10 against and two blank ballots, she added. The vote was conducted in private to avoid any legal measures against the parliament later on.
A head of the vote, opposition lawmakers walked out of the chamber in protest.
The vote came a day after Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont ruled out calling for a snap election, thought to have been a potential way of defusing tension with the central government.
Tens of thousands of pro-separation Catalans, mostly students, have gathered near the parliament in Barcelona in support of the unilteral independence.
Spanish TV said the Catalans were surrounding the parliament building, awaiting province's leader Carles Puigdoment to give a speech.
The President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani condemned the declaration of independence as "a breach of the rule of law, the Spanish constitution and the Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia, which are part of the EU's legal framework.
"No one in the European Union will recognise this declaration. More than ever, it is necessary to re-establish legality as a basis for dialogue and to guarantee the freedoms and rights of all Catalan citizens," he added in a brief statement.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that the "Catalonia issue must be resolved within Spain's constitutional order.
"Spain is committed Ally, with important contributions to our security," he added in his tweet message.
In a swift reaction, Spain's Senate endorsed a host of drastic measures proposed by the government to halt the separation push in Catalonia, almost an hour after the region declared independence from the country.
The Senate's 214-47 vote gave the green light for the invocation of Article 155 of the constitution.
The approval will then pass to the cabinet that meets later today to implement the measures against the Catalan government.
On Saturday, the Spanish government endorsed a series of measures as part of implementing Article 155 of the Constitution, which empowers the central government to coerce any Spanish region to abide by the state laws and the National Constitution.
They include suspension of the Catalan leader and his deputy, who would be replaced by nominees from the central government.
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy urged his nation to remain calm re-stating that his government would restore legitimacy in Catalonia.
Speaking to journalists after a Senate session, the prime minister said the statement by the Catalan Parliament declaring independence from Madrid was not only "a law-breaking act but also a criminal action." The step taken by the Catalan Parliament emphatically underscores necessity of implementing Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution and taking decisive measures against the secession movement, he said.
The Spanish Cabinet is due to meet in a few hours to endorse a series of measures aimed at ousting the Catalan Government. (end) kt.bs
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