Pro-unity demonstrators gather in Madrid on Saturday, the day after the Catalan regional parliament declared independence. Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy also dissolved the regional parliament and called a new regional election to be held on Dec 21. In a pre-recorded televised statement, Puigdemont said only the regional parliament can elect or dismiss the Catalan government, vowing to "continue working to build a free country". Vice President Soraya Saenz de Santamaria will be Rajoy's point person in running Catalonia until the new regional election on Dec 21. She will coordinate with other ministries that take over functions of Catalonia's regional departments, including finances and security, and appoint officials to implement orders from Madrid.

Source: Bangkok Post October 28, 2017 14:03 UTC