Catalonia’s Leaders Fight Off Direct Rule From Madrid

People wave separatist Catalan flags and placards during a demonstration organised by Catalan pro-independence movements ANC (Catalan National Assembly) and Omnium Cutural, following the imprisonment of their two leaders Jordi Sanchez and Jordi Cuixart, in Barcelona, Spain, Oct. 21, 2017. REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado

MADRID/BARCELONA–Catalonia’s leaders said on Saturday they would not accept direct rule imposed on the region by the Spanish government, as a political crisis that has rattled the economy and raised fears of prolonged unrest showed no signs of easing.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy announced earlier on Oct. 22 he would invoke special constitutional powers to fire the regional government and force a new election to counter the region’s move towards independence.