Catalonia's parliament declared independence from Spain on Friday, October 27 in defiance of the central government in Madrid.
Here are all the latest updates since the declaration:
'EU cannot have political prisoners'. On Tuesday, Carles Puigdemont said that the EU "cannot have an entire government in prison or in exile." In an interview with Catalan public radio, broadcasted from Brussels, he also stated that the EU "cannot have political prisoners or a legitimate parliament dissolved via a Spanish government decree".
Puigdemont condemns Spanish justice. After being released without bail in Brussels, Carles Puigdemont and three members of his ousted government condemned Spain's legal proceedings. "In freedom and without bail", Puidgemont said on Twitter, while Meritxell Serret, former agriculture minister, tweeted: "In Belgium, they release us without bail, while in Spain we would be in prison."
October 30 - November 5Puigdemont turns himself in
Sacked Catalonia leader Carles Puigdemont and four associates turned themselves in to Belgian police on Sunday, following Spain's issuing of an arrest warrant for rebellion and sedition.
Spain issues arrest warrant for Carles Puigdemont
A Spanish judge has issued an international arrest warrant for dismissed Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont.
Judge Carmen Lamela issued the order on the grounds that it was public knowledge that Puigdemont is in Belgium.
The warrant added two charges: prevarication (lying) and disobedience.
It also names the four other ex-ministers who accompany Puigdemont in Brussels.
Barcelona politicians demand release of Catalans
Barcelona's politicians spoke out on Friday against the imprisonment of nine former Catalan ministers as their city braces for continued protests after Spain imposed direct rule.
Barcelona's city council issued a declaration calling for the immediate release of the Catalan politicians along with Jordi Cuixart and Jordi Sanchez, two pro-independence organisers jailed since October 16.
The declaration was signed by parties from across the political spectrum.
Judge 'to not issue European arrest warrant' for Puigdemont
The Spanish judge in charge of processing charges against Catalan secessionist leaders will not issue a European arrest warrant for Puigdemont until at least Friday, according to a court source.
Newspaper La Vanguardia had said earlier the judge had issued the warrant. "The warrant will most likely be issued on Friday," the source said on condition of anonymity.
The judge ordered nine Catalan secessionist leaders on Thursday to be held pending a potential trial over the region's independence push.
17:30 local time, October 31Belgium to treat Puigdemont 'like any other European': PM
Charles Michel, Belgian prime minister, says that Carles Puigdemont "will be treated like any other European citizen". His comments came after the removed Catalan president said he planned to stay in Belgium's capital, Brussels.
"Mr Puigdemont has the same rights and responsibilities as any European citizen - no more, no less," Michel said in a statement, stressing that his government had not invited the removed Catalan leader, who gave a press conference in Brussels earlier on Tuesday.
15:00 local time, October 31Puigdemont 'not seeking asylum'
Carles Puigdemont has said his party will stand in a December 21 snap poll called by the central government in Madrid for Catalonia. Speaking in Brussels, the deposed Catalan leader said he would respect the outcome of the election, but urged Spanish authorities to do the same.
He arrived at Brussels Press Club for a news conference on Tuesday, amid speculation that he and his ministers would seek political asylum in Belgium, which he said was not their intent.
11:30 local time, October 31High Court expected to suspend Catalan independence declaration
The Spanish High Court is expected to suspend the Catalan parliament's declaration of independence today.
The move comes after the Spanish prosecutor charged dismissed Catalan President Carles Puigdemont and his government with sedition and rebellion, among other offences.
Marta Pascal, coordinator of the Catalan Democratic Party to which Puigdemont belongs, claimed in an interview with TV3 that she isn't aware whether the former president and his ministers fled to Belgium.
"We have to say emphatically and clearly that we will not abandon anyone, we shall defend these people," Pascal said.
Puigdemont, who many believe plans to apply for political asylum in Belgium, is expected to give a press conference later today.
15:40 local time, October 30Pro-independence party to participate in December poll
Catalan pro-independence party PdeCat says it will take part in a snap regional on December 21, vowing to defeat pro-union political forces.
"Mr Rajoy, we will see you at the ballot boxes," Marta Pascal, PdeCat party coordinator, told reporters, referring to Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who has sacked Catalonia's regional government.
Carles Puigdemont, the removed Catalonia president, did not attend the party meeting.
15:05 local time, October 30Catalan leader 'in Belgium'
Carles Puigdemont, Catalonia's deposed president, has left Spain for Belgium, according to Catalan daily La Vanguardia.
The report came minutes after the Spanish prosecutor filed charges of sedition, rebellion and others against Puigdemont, his government and members of the Catalan parliament.
Belgium's Migration Minister Theo Francken told a Flemish television station on Sunday that it would be "not unrealistic" for Belgium to offer Puigdemont political asylum if he asked for it.
Belgium is one of the few European Union countries where EU citizens can request political asylum.
"The question is to what extent he would get a fair trial," added Francken.
12:20 local time, October 30Spain prosecutor files charges against Catalan leaders
Spanish Attorney General Jose Manuel Maza has confirmed he will file criminal complaints against the dismissed Catalan government.
Maza said the charges would include sedition and rebellion, both felony offences with penalties of between one and 30 years in prison.
Read more here.
12:00 local time, October 30Spain's control over Catalonia to be tested
Madrid's control over Catalonia will be tested on Monday when politicians and civil servants return to work.
The main civic group behind the pro-secession campaign have called for widespread civil disobedience.
Several Spanish ministers said at the weekend they were convinced civil servants would obey orders and reiterated that those who did not could lose their job.
11:30 local time, October 30Catalans face criminal charges
The Spanish Attorney General is expected to deliver a complaint charging the dismissed Catalan government with "rebellion," a serious crime punishable by up to 30 years in prison.
Carles Puigdemont, the dismissed president of the Catalan government, may receive more charges,
including that of sedition.
Jordi Cuixart and Jordi Sanchez of the National Catalan Assembly and Omnium Cultura, two pro-independence groups, are currently being held without bail on the same charges.
Cuixart and Sanchez have become rallying cries for pro-independence Catalan demonstrators.
17:01 local time, October 29'Puigdemont can ask for political asylum in Belgium'
Theo Francken, the Belgian minister of asylum and migration, has said that Belgium might offer political asylum to Catalans.
"Catalans that fear they might be prosecuted in Spain can ask for political asylum in Belgium. And that includes Prime Minister [Carles] Puigdemont," Francken said in an interview with Belgian public broadcaster VRT,
Francken referenced Spain's constitution, which says anyone who calls for independence of a Spanish region can be prosecuted. He also said that although nobody from Catalonia has so far applied for political asylum, it has happened before, with Basque people seeking refuge in Belgium.
Belgium is one of the few countries in Europe where Europeans can apply for political asylum.
15:30 local time, October 29'We are Spanish!'
The pro-unity demonstration in Barcelona is wrapping up.
The Spanish government placed attendance at one million people, while the Catalan government put the figure at 300,000.
Chants of "We are Spanish!" filled the air as demonstrators rallied through the city draped in Spanish flags, and vehicles honked as they marched.
14:30 local time, October 29'Diverse protests'
The crowd is noticeably larger than previous unity rallies. Demonstrators are diverse, coming from all age groups and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Demonstrators chanted: "how beautiful is Spain?" and: "We are Spanish!" as they marched.
Maria Garcia, a 64-year-old resident of Barcelona attending the rally with her husband, said the Catalan declaration of independence robbed her of her rights.
"I want to be Spanish, and I want to live in Barcelona. Who is [the Catalan government] to take those rights from me?" Garcia asked.
Garcia said she didn't vote in the disputed October 1 referendum on Catalan independence: "It was illegal."
13:20 local time, October 29"We are all Catalonia"
Thousands have turned out for a pro-unity rally in downtown Barcelona.
The rally has been named "Todos Somos Cataluña," Spanish for "We are all Catalonia".
12:30 local time, October 29Protests against secession underway
A demonstration against Catalonia's attempts to secede from Spain has started in Barcelona, drawing tens of thousands of people.
Waving the "Senyera" Catalan flag, demonstrators cheered unionist politicians and a police helicopter flying overhead.
The protesters also called for the Catalan regional president, Carles Puigdemont, to be imprisoned, according to the Associated Press.
11:00 local time, October 29Oriol Junqueras: Article 155 is 'coup d'etat'
Deposed Catalan Vice-President Oriol Junqueras said in an opinion piece published on Sunday that the Catalan government will have to "make decisions that will not be easy to understand".
The deposed vice-president and leader of the Catalan Republican Left party called the application of Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution a "coup d'etat against Catalonia".
Junqueras kept the door open to participating in elections on December 21, which were called by Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.
Creating new political alliances will be key, Junqueras commented, offering an olive branch to the regional branch of the left-wing Podemos party.
Recognising there will be tough days ahead, Junqueras said the "Catalan Republic was born, not with the strength that we wanted, but with the legitimacy of the vote".
07:30 local time, October 29Pro-unity protesters set to gather in Barcelona
Pro-unity protesters are set to gather in Catalonia's capital, Barcelona, two days after local politicians voted to split the wealthy region from Spain, plunging the country into an unprecedented political crisis.
The demonstrators are to meet at Plaza Artos at 09:30 GMT.
21:05 local time, October 28Security for Catalan ministers being scaled down
Carles Puigdemont and several other former members of the Catalan government have had their security scaled down. Some Catalan ministers will have their security details completely removed, while Puigdemont, former leader of the government, will have a smaller number of security guards now responsible for his safety.
The security is provided by the MOSSOS, the regional police force of Catalonia.
19:33 local time, October 28Spanish governments wants Puigdemont in new elections
The Spanish government has called on the sacked Catalan President Carles Puigdemont to participate in the next Catalan elections.
Government spokesman Inigo Mendez de Vigo said: "I‘m quite sure that if Puigdemont takes part in these elections, he can exercise this democratic opposition."
After yesterday's declaration of independence by the Catalan government, Puigdemont and his regional government were sacked by the Spanish government. Madrid announced it would hold elections for a new Catalan government before the end of the year.
17:53 local time, October 28France's Occitanie region calls for dialogue
Carole Delga, president of the Occitanie region in France that borders Catalonia, has called for dialogue between the Catalans and the Spanish government.
"Faced with this deadlock situation, I want to stress the need to find a way to open talks as soon as possible, notably to safeguard the civil peace,", Delga said according to Reuters.
16:12 local time, October 28People gather in support of Spanish unity
In the Spanish capital, Madrid, thousands of people have gathered in support of Spanish unity. Many of them were seen carrying flags while they rallied on one of the main squares in the city.
15:00 local time, October 28Puigdemont calls for 'democratic opposition'
Carles Puigdemont, the former leader of the Catalan government, called for continued democratic opposition in response to the takeover of the Catalan regional government by Madrid.
"The best way to defend what we have conquered so far is to have a democratic opposition to Article 155," Puigdemont said from his home city of Girona. Article 155 is the part of the Spanish constitution that allows the government in Madrid to impose direct rule on the region.
Puigdemont also said he would continue to work on what he called "a free country".
09:00 local time, October 28Catalonia's police chief dismissed
Spain has sacked the chief of Catalonia's regional police force as the government in Madrid takes control of the autonomous region to block its push for independence.
Josep Lluis Trapero was fired on Saturday. Trapero became a hero to the secessionists after his force took a much softer stance than national police in enforcing a government ban on the independence referendum on October 1.
There have been doubts over how the Mossos d'Esquadra, as the Catalan police are called, would respond if ordered to evict sacked leader Carles Puigdemont and his government.
In an effort to defuse tensions, the regional police force urged its members to behave in a neutral manner and not to take sides.
23:57 local time, October 27, 2017Turkey: Catalan independence declaration 'wrong'
Omer Celik, Turkey's European Union minister, had added his voice to those calling for Spanish unity.
In a televised interview with Turkey's Kanal 24, Celik described the Catalan parliament's decision to declare independence as "wrong".
"We do not find Catalonia's declaration of independence legitimate," he said.
"Turkey will continue to support Spain's territorial integrity, constitution and political unity."
21:10 local time, October 27, 2017'We are not moving'
In a square outside the government palace in Barcelona, an announcer told the crowd that Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is firing Catalonia's regional government, dissolving its parliament and calling for a new regional election.
The news was greeted with loud jeers and whistles.
A band took to the stage immediately after the announcement, and the crowd once more began singing and dancing to the music.
The crowd in Sant Jaume Square shouted: "we are not moving!"
20:50 local time, October 27, 2017
PM Rajoy: 'The state has the means to restore normality'
Translation: The president of the Generalitat, his government, and the general director of the Mossos have been dismissed; we will close the delegations abroad.
Translation: The state has the means to restore normality. We propose to the TC the invalidation of the resolutions approved today by the Parliament, Rajoy wrote.
Translation: We put in place the first measures to prevent them from walking the road of illegality, Prime Minister Rajoy wrote.
20:20 local time, October 27, 2017
Spain deposes Catalonia regional government
Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said Spain is firing the Catalan government as part of emergency measures the Senate approved following the region's declaration of independence.
He also called for a new regional election on December 21.
Rajoy was speaking after a special cabinet meeting to discuss what measures to take in the wake of the Catalan parliament’s announcement of secession earlier on Friday.
The firing of the regional leaders is likely to meet with fierce opposition in Catalonia, where thousands have been celebrating the independence declaration.
"We never wanted to come to this point," Rajoy said, adding that his aim is "to return (Catalonia) to normality and legality as soon as possible."
20:10 local time, October 27, 2017Macron: 'There is a rule of law in Spain'
French President Emmanuel Macron has thrown his full support behind Rajoy and the Spanish government.
During a visit to French Guiana on Friday, Macron told journalists he has always had "one interlocutor in Spain, it is Prime Minister Rajoy".
Macron added: "There is a rule of law in Spain with constitutional rules. Mariano Rajoy wants these rules to be respected, and he has my full support."
20:05 local time, October 27, 2017Official statement
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is to make a statement following a cabinet meeting on the emergency measures Spain plans to take following the Catalonia's declaration of independence.
Rajoy said earlier that he plans to start by firing the Catalan government that declared independence.
18:30 local time, October 27, 2017International reactions
UK Prime Minister Theresa May's office said Britain "does not and will not" recognise the Catalan regional parliament's declaration of independence, which "is based on a vote that was declared illegal by the Spanish courts".
But the Scottish government, led by the pro-independence Scottish National Party, criticised Spain for refusing dialogue and said imposition of direct rule by Madrid "cannot be the solution".
External Affairs Minister Fiona Hyslop said, "the European Union has a political and moral responsibility to support dialogue to identify how the situation can be resolved peacefully and democratically".
18:20 local time, October 27, 2017Germany 'does not recognise' Catalonia independence move
Germany on Friday said Friday it supported the Spanish government in its dispute with separatists in Catalonia and would not recognise an independence vote by the Catalan parliament.
Berlin also said it supported the "clear position" of Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy in his bid to restore calm and order.
18:05 local time, October 27, 2017Extraordinary meeting
Translation: Extraordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers to approve the authorised measures by the @Senadoesp on the basis of article 155, Mariano Rajoy wrote.
Celebrations in Barcelona
Catalans packed a central square in Barcelona, ready to celebrate the arrival of a new republic after the region’s legislators voted to declare independence from Spain.
Demonstrators gathered outside the Catalan government palace, applauding officials and legislators as they arrived and entered the building.
They called for the Spanish flag to be removed from the top of the 16th-century building.
Spanish Socialist opposition leader Pedro Sanchez
Translation: "Together we have overcome adversity, and we will do it again. With law and policy. With respect to the other, dialogue and reform," he says.
Translation: "Puigdemont and Junqueras are mainly responsible for fracturing and tearing apart the Catalan society. All for nothing," Pedro Sanchez, Secretary-General of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) said.
17:30 local time, October 27, 2017
'Out with the Spanish flag'
In the Catalan town of Girona, supporters of the region's independence bid apparently removed the Spanish national flag from the town hall building and replaced it with the Catalan regional flag.
Mobile phone video footage filmed Friday in Girona, northeast of the regional capital of Barcelona, and posted on Twitter showed a crowd cheering "out, out, out with the Spanish flag!" shortly after Catalonia's parliament voted to declare an independent republic.
17:39 local time, October 27, 2017
Carles Puigdemont responded:
Prime minister of Belgium wrote:
17:15 local time, October 27, 2017
US supports the Spanish government
The US State Department says it stands in support of Spain's government in its efforts to stop Catalonia's independence bid.
State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said:
'Catalonia is an integral part of Spain, and the United States supports the Spanish government's constitutional measures to keep Spain strong and united.'
16:45 local time, October 27, 2017
'We must keep to our values'
Catalan President Carles Puigdemont called on fellow separatists to remain peaceful in the face of an expected crackdown by Spanish authorities after the region's legislators voted in favour of declaring an independent Catalan Republic.
Facing a crowd of hundreds of supporters packing Catalonia's parliament building, he said:
"In the days ahead we must keep to our values of pacifism and dignity. It's in our, in your hands to build the republic."
16:35 local time, October 27, 2017
Carles Puigdemont then responded Tusk:
"As you know, Catalans, always favour the force of arguments."
16:20 local time, October 27, 2017
'Spain remains our interlocutor'
Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, wrote:
"For EU nothing changes. Spain remains our only interlocutor. I hope the Spanish government favours force of argument, not argument of force."
16:15 local time, October 27, 2017
Constitutional measures
Spain's Senate has authorised the government to apply constitutional measures to take control of the government of Catalonia.
A majority of senators gave the Spanish prime minister the go-ahead Friday to apply unprecedented measures including sacking Catalan regional President Carles Puigdemont and his cabinet.
The vote came shortly after the Catalan parliament itself voted in Barcelona to declare the region's independence.
15:45 local time, October 27, 2017'I call on Spaniards to remain calm'
Spain's prime minister urged all citizens to remain calm after Catalonia's parliament approved a motion declaring the region a republic independent from Spain.
Rajoy wrote: "I call on all Spaniards to remain calm. The rule of law will restore legality to Catalonia."
Rajoy's tweet came as the Spanish Senate in Madrid prepared to approve government proposals to take direct control of region Catalonia.
15:40 local time, October 27, 2017Thousands of people who have gathered outside Catalonia's parliament building in support of the region's independence bid cheered and danced after the parliament passed a motion saying it wanted to establish an independent Catalan Republic.
15:35 local time, October 27, 2017
Catalonia declares independence
Catalonia's regional parliament passed a motion saying they are establishing an independent Catalan Republic.
Separatist legislators celebrated as the vote was approved with 70 votes in favour of independence, 10 against and two blank ballots.
Spain opposes the independence bid and the central government in Madrid is preparing measures to take over control of the northeastern region. No country has expressed support for the secession bid.
