The motion was passed in the Catalan Parliament after a passionate debate from advocates and opponents of independence said Catalonia constituted an independent, sovereign and social democratic state.
Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont left the chamber to shouts of “President!” and mayors who had come from outlying areas brandished their ceremonial batons and sang the Catalan anthem Els Segadors (The Reapers.
However, immediately after news of the vote, which three Opposition parties boycotted, Spanish shares and bonds were sold off, reflecting business concern over the turmoil in the wealthy region.
Within an hour, the upper house of Spain’s Parliament in Madrid authorised Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s government to rule Catalonia directly — an unprecedented move in Spain since the return of democracy in the late 1970s.
In Brussels, the president of the European Council, Donald Tusk, said the independence vote changed nothing and the EU would only deal with the central government in Madrid.
Cabinet meet
In Washington, the U.S. State Department said it backed Madrid’s efforts to keep Spain united and Catalonia was an integral part of the country.
Mr. Rajoy was set to convene his Cabinet later to adopt the first measures to govern Catalonia. This could include firing the Barcelona government and assuming direct supervision of Catalan police forces.
“Exceptional measures should only be adopted when no other remedy is possible,” Mr. Rajoy said in an address to the Senate on Friday morning. “In my opinion there is no alternative. The only thing that can be done and should be done is to accept and comply with the law,” said Mr. Rajoy, who has staked out an uncompromising position.
How direct rule would work on the ground, including the reaction of civil servants and the police, is uncertain. Some independence supporters have promised to mount a campaign of civil disobedience.