Spain announces plan to quell Catalan separatism

The Spanish government announced a plan Saturday to replace Catalonia’s separatist leaders and call a new regional election. After a special Cabinet session, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said he wants the Senate to approve central government ministers to take over police, finances, and public media in Catalonia, but he promised the region would retain its autonomy and elect its own officials within six months. “There is no country in the world ready to allow this kind of situation within its borders,” Rajoy said. “It is my wish to call elections as soon as normality is restored.” Catalans who support independence balked at the announcement, calling the move a coup d’etat by a totalitarian Spanish central government. Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont has threatened to hold a vote in the regional parliament for an explicit declaration of independence from Spain. The region voted for independence in a disputed Oct. 1 referendum.