[DAWN] French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday that Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy had his "full support" in enforcing the law in Catalonia as Madrid readies to take direct control of the rebellious province.Catalan politicians voted on Friday to declare independence from Spain but Madrid moved swiftly to quash the breakaway bid in a sharp escalation of a crisis causing jitters in secession-wary Europe.
As thousands of pro-independence activists cheered outside, the regional parliament in Barcelona passed a resolution declaring Catalonia "a republic in the form of an independent and sovereign state".
"I have one partner in Spain, that's Prime Minister Rajoy... the rule of law prevails in Spain, with constitutional rules. He wants to ensure they are respected and he has my full support," Macron told news hounds on the sidelines of a visit to the overseas territory of French Guiana.
His Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian made it clear that La Belle France "does not recognise the declaration of independence".
Spain's constitution "must be respected," he added. "La Belle France wants a strong and unified Spain."
Earlier this week French backers of Catalonian independence offered "hospitality" to Catalan President Carles Puidgemont to lead a government-in-exile in Perpignan, a southern French city with deep Catalan roots.
La Belle France's Pyrenees-Orientales area was for centuries a part of Catalonia, only becoming French in the latter half of the 17th century.
Catalonia declares independence as Spain imposes direct rule
[PRESSTV] Catalonia's regional parliament has declared independence from Spain, while Madrid immediately imposed direct rule over the region.
The independence motion was approved in the 135-seat chamber on Friday as 70 Catalan lawmakers voted in favor, 10 against. Two ballot papers were blank. The ballot was boycotted by the opposition parties: the Socialist Party, the People's Party (PP) and Ciudadanos.
Commenting on the news, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy called for calm.
"I ask for calm from all Spaniards. The rule of law will restore legality in Catalonia," Rajoy said in a tweet minutes after Catalonia’s declaration of independence.
Spanish premier dismisses Catalan government, parliament
[PRESSTV] Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has dismissed Catalonia’s president and parliament hours after the region declared independence from Spain.Speaking in a televised speech on Friday, Rajoy said a new regional election will be held in Catalonia on December 21.
Apart from removing Catalan President Carles Puigdemont, the Spanish premier also dismissed the region’s police chief and ordered central government ministries to take over the Catalan administration.
"Spain is living through a sad day," Rajoy said, noting, "We believe it is urgent to listen to Catalan citizens, to all of them, so that they can decide their future and nobody can act outside the law on their behalf."