THE Catalan parliament has voted to declare independence from Spain, as the Spanish government imposed direct rule (taking back control of the Catalonia region).

It’s uncertain what will develop from here in the country, but Catalonia’s announcement is sure to lead to further trouble.

Now that the Spanish government has voted for direct rule, they will be able to take “all measures necessary”, which could lead to more violence if Spanish police and Catalan protesters clash.

Division in Spain

The independence vote was backed by 70 MPs to 10, but many opposition MPs refused to vote.

The crisis began when Catalans backed independence in a referendum earlier this month.

The Catalan government said that 43% of Catalan people voted in the referendum, and that 90% of those voters were in favour of independence.

Spain’s Constitutional Court ruled that vote illegal, and voters clashed with Spanish police.

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