Catalan President, Carles [Poodg-demon], is poised to press ahead with plans for independence from Spain.

Later this week, the regional Parliament will meet in response to the decision to impose direct rule from Madrid.

0.17 PUIGDEMONT SITTING NEXT TO CATALAN GOVERNMENT PRESIDENCY COUNCILLOR JORDI TURULL (18/10) DURING MEETING OF CATALAN PARTY PDeCAT

Amidst escalating rhetoric, diplomatic solutions to the crisis seem increasingly remote.

At the weekend, Prime Minister Mariano [Rahoy] invoked article 155 of the Spanish constitution, allowing him to claw back Catalonia’s autonomy and trigger a regional election.

0.36 PUIGDEMONT MEETS CABINET (10/10)

Puigdemont described the move as “the worst attack on the institutions and people of Catalonia since the decrees of the military dictator Francisco Franco” and the Catalan Speaker said it was a “coup d’etat”.

The foreign affairs spokesman has said Catalan officials won’t follow orders from the Spanish government.

0.59 NEWSPAPER KIOSK IN BARCELONA STREET/ VARIOUS OF STREET SCENES

The Spanish foreign minister said the only coup that had taken place had been carried out by Puigdemont and his colleagues.

Neither side wants to claim responsibility for the disorder that’s caused both political tension and economic woes, with several big companies pulling their headquarters out of the region.