Spain set to revoke Catalonia’s autonomy

Catalonian President Carles Puigdemont on Thursday canceled an official address ahead of the Spanish government’s plan to take control of the autonomous region by Friday. Puigdemont has come under increased pressure either to unilaterally declare independence or call for a snap election. After canceling his speech, Puigdemont said he would not call for an election, a move that could have defused tension with Spain. Catalonia on Oct. 1 held a disputed independence referendum in which a majority of voters called for separation from Spain. The Spanish government earlier appealed to the Senate to approve its plan to suspend Catalonia’s autonomy. The pending approval means Spain would sack the region’s elected government and hold a regional election. The Senate is expected to approve the appeal on Friday. More than 4,000 protesters on Thursday gathered in central Barcelona to oppose the Spanish government’s plans. Earlier on Wednesday, Catalonian Vice President Oriol Junqueras said the Spanish government left the separatists with little choice but to declare independence.