Carles Puigdemont, the president of Catalonia, on Monday asked regional parliamentarians to debate options on Thursday in the face of Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy announcing steps to sack officials in Barcelona and replace them with Spanish loyalists.
Puigdemont released a video statement in English appealing to people and politicians in Europe.
"If EU foundational values are at risk in Catalonia, they will also be at risk in Europe," said Puigdemont. "Democratically deciding the future of a nation is not a crime.”
"This goes against foundations that unite European citizens through their diversity."
A declaration of independence has been floated as a response by the legislative body.
Rajoy also wants to hold early regional elections.
A small pro-autonomy group based across the border in France is offering shelter to Catalan president Carles Puigdemont.
Robert Casanovas, the president of the Committee for the Self-Determination of North Catalonia, told The Associated Press he has a villa ready for Puigdemont in the village of Theza, as well as "20 to 30" apartments available for other members of his cabinet if they're forced to leave Spain and want to set up a Catalan government in exile.
Pro-independence students in the Universities for the Republic are calling for a strike in Catalan universities on Thursday.
The group says the protest is to urge Catalan authorities to proclaim the Catalan Republic and defend the territory's institutions.
Catalonia’s leaders ignored an earlier ruling by a Spanish court and went ahead with its referendum for independence as Spain’s government condemned the vote as illegal.
About 90 percent of the people in Catalonia voted for independence, according to Catalan government figures. Most votes were counted despite police efforts. However, turnout was only 42 percent.
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via Defense News
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