more-inCatalan authorities must drop a bid for independence by Thursday, the Spanish government said, moving closer to imposing direct rule over the region after its leader missed an initial deadline to back down. In a confrontation viewed with mounting unease in European capitals and markets, Carles Puigdemont failed on Monday to respond to an ultimatum from Madrid to clarify if he had declared independence. A regional broadcaster said he also planned to ignore a second deadline on Thursday. Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said he had not answered the question and had to do so by Thursday. In reply, Mr. Rajoy said Puigdemont’s stance had brought Madrid closer to triggering Article 155 of the Constitution, under which it can impose direct rule on any of the country’s 17 autonomous communities if they break the law.

Source: The Hindu October 16, 2017 15:45 UTC