Editing History of Catalonia (section)

==Contemporary period (1939–present)==
=== Franco's dictatorship ===
{{Main|Francoist Catalonia}}
[[File:FrancoenReus.jpg|thumb|[[Francisco Franco]] in [[Reus]], 1940]]
As in the rest of Spain, the Franco era (1939–1975) in Catalonia saw the annulment of democratic liberties, the prohibition and persecution of parties, the rise of thoroughgoing censorship, and the banning of all leftist institutions. In Catalonia it also meant, yet again, the annulment of the Statute of Autonomy, the banning of the whole specifically Catalan institutions and legislation. Catalan was subject to oppression and was reduced to family use. Castilian (Spanish) became the only language of education, administration and the media. During the first years, all resistance was energetically suppressed, the prisons filled up with political prisoners, and thousands of Catalans went into exile. In addition, 4000 Catalans were executed between 1938 and 1953, among them the former president of the Generalitat [[Lluís Companys]] (taken to Spain from his exile in the [[German-occupied France]]).<ref>Preston, Paul (2012). ''The Spanish Holocaust.'' Harper Press, London p. 493</ref>

The Civil War had ravaged the Spanish economy. Infrastructure had been damaged, workers killed and daily business severely hampered. The economic recovery was very slow and it was not until the second half of the 1950s that the economy of Catalonia reached the prewar levels of 1936. After an initial period in which Spain tried to build an [[autarky]], in which the economy improved little, Franco's regime changed its economic policies in 1959 and in the 1960s and early 1970s the economy entered a period of rapid economic expansion that became known as the [[Spanish Miracle]]. International firms established their factories in Spain: salaries were relatively low, strikes were forbidden, labour health or real state regulations were unheard of and Spain was virtually a virgin market. The period was marked by agricultural modernization, a massive expansion of industry and the start of mass tourism, which it was concentrated on the coast ([[Costa Brava]] in Girona and [[Costa Daurada]] in Tarragona). As industry in Catalonia expanded, workers migrated from rural areas across Spain (particularly [[Andalusia]], [[Extremadura]], [[Murcia]] and [[Galicia (Spain)|Galicia]]),<ref name="CrameriCentre2000">{{cite book|author1=Kathryn Crameri|author2=University of Oxford. European Humanities Research Centre|title=Language, the novelist and national identity in post-Franco Catalonia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IwRdAAAAMAAJ&q=%22prosperous%22|year=2000|publisher=Legenda &#91;in association with&#93; European Humanities Research Centre, University of Oxford|isbn=978-1-900755-37-5|page=35}}</ref> to work in Barcelona and its surrounding area, turning it into one of Europe's largest industrial metropolitan areas, which in turn led to dramatic urbanisation.<ref name="MorelliSalvati2010">{{cite book|author1=Vittorio Gargiulo Morelli|author2=Luca Salvati|title=Ad Hoc Urban Sprawl in the Mediterranean City: Dispersing a Compact Tradition?|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P9CE9eFTet4C&pg=PA90|year=2010|publisher=Edizioni Nuova Cultura|isbn=978-88-6134-572-0|page=90}}</ref> Working-class opposition to Franco began to appear, usually clandestinely, and most notably in the form of the [[Workers' Commissions|Comisiones Obreras]] ("Workers Commissions"), a return of trade union organizing, and the revival of the PSUC, while the students' protests turned frequent. In the 1970s democratic forces united under the banner of the [[Assembly of Catalonia]] ("Assemblea de Catalunya"), demanding political and social freedom, amnesty for the political prisoners, the reestablishment of the autonomy of Catalonia and the collaboration with the democratic forces of the rest of Spain.<ref>[https://www.lavanguardia.com/encatala/20111106/54237588105/naixement-i-mort-de-l-assemblea-de-catalunya.html Neixement i mort de l'Assemblea de Catalunya.] La Vanguardia, 08-11-2011</ref><ref>Batista, Antoni. «L'assemblea de Catalunya, el primer graó de la transició », Sàpiens, n. 109, October 2011</ref>

During later stages of Francoist Spain, folkloric and religious celebrations in Catalan resumed and were tolerated. Use of Catalan in the mass media had been forbidden, but was permitted from the early 1950s in the theatre.<ref>{{cite book| author = Ross| title = Cultural Contestation in Ethnic Conflict| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Oe4popSDfW0C&pg=PA139| publisher = Cambridge University Press| isbn = 978-1-139-46307-2| page = 139 | date = 3 May 2007}}</ref> During the 60s and 70s the [[Catalan music]] entered into a period of renewal and growth known as [[Nova Cançó]]. Initially appeared with [[Els Setze Jutges]] group, it quickly became a mass phenomenon that incorporated the protest song against the Dictatorship and helped bring forth prominent singers and groups such as [[Joan Manuel Serrat]], [[Lluís Llach]], [[Raimon]], [[Maria del Mar Bonet]], [[Ovidi Montllor]] or [[Grup de Folk]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Pujadó |first1=Miquel |title=Diccionari de la Cançó. D'Els Setze Jutges al Rock Català |date=2000 |publisher=Enciclopèdia catalana |location=Barcelona |isbn=8441204675 |pages=52–55}}</ref>

=== Democracy restored ===
[[File:Seal of the Generalitat of Catalonia.svg|thumb|left|upright|Emblem of the [[Generalitat of Catalonia|Generalitat (Government) of Catalonia]]]]
[[File:MITING CNT MONTJUÏC.jpg|thumb|right|[[Federica Montseny]] speaks at the meeting of the [[w:Confederación Nacional del Trabajo|CNT]] in Barcelona in 1977 after 36 years of exile]]
[[File:Jordi Pujol - Fotografia oficial.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[Jordi Pujol]], one hundred twenty-sixth president of the Generalitat of Catalonia (1980–2003)]]
Franco's death initiated a period that came to be known as the "democratic transition", during which democratic liberties were restored, culminating in the [[Spanish Constitution of 1978]]. This constitution recognized the existence of multiple national communities within Spain and proposed the division of the country into [[Autonomous communities of Spain|autonomous communities]]. After the first general election in 1977 the Generalitat was restored as a provisional government, headed by its president in exile [[Josep Tarradellas]], and including representatives of the various leading forces of the time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.elnacional.cat/es/cultura-ideas-artes/marc-pons-ciutadans-catalunya-soc-aqui_204399_102.html|title=Ciutadans de Catalunya, ja soc aquí!|last=Pons|first=Marc|date=2017-10-22|website=ElNacional.cat|access-date=2018-08-21}}</ref> In 1979, the [[Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia of 1979|new Statute of Autonomy]] was finally approved delegating more autonomy in matters of education and culture than the Republican 1932 Statute, but less in terms of the systems of justice and public order. In it, Catalonia is defined as a "nationality", Catalan is recognized as Catalonia's own language, and became co-official with Spanish. [[1980 Catalan regional election|First election]] to the Parliament of Catalonia under this Statute gave the Catalan presidency to [[Jordi Pujol]], a position he would hold until 2003. During this time he also led [[Convergence and Unity|Convergència i Unió]] (Convergence and Unity, CiU) a center-right Catalan nationalist electoral coalition consisting of his own [[Democratic Convergence of Catalonia|Convergència Democràtica de Catalunya]] (Democratic Convergence of Catalonia, CDC) and the smaller and more conservative [[Democratic Union of Catalonia|Unió Democràtica de Catalunya]] (Democratic Union of Catalonia, UDC).

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s the institutions of Catalan autonomy continued to develop, among them an autonomous police force (called ''[[Mossos d'Esquadra]]'', officially refunded as the police of Catalonia in 1983),<ref>[https://mossos.gencat.cat/ca/els_mossos_desquadra/historia_de_la_pg-me/ History of the Mossos d'Esquadra] mossos.gencat.cat</ref> the restoration of the [[Comarques of Catalonia|comarcal]] administrations (roughly equivalent to United States "counties" or United Kingdom "[[shire]]s" or "counties", but distinct from the historical Catalan counties) and a High Court in the form of the [[High Court of Justice of Catalonia]] (Catalan: ''Tribunal Superior de Justícia de Catalunya'').<ref>[http://www.poderjudicial.es/cgpj/es/Poder-Judicial/Tribunales-Superiores-de-Justicia/TSJ-Cataluna/Informacion-Institucional/Historia-del-TSJ-Cataluna/ History of the High Court of Justice of Catalonia] poderjudicial.es</ref> Catalonia's Law of Linguistic Normalization promoted Catalan-language media. The broadcasting network [[Televisió de Catalunya]] and its first channel [[TV3 (Catalonia)|TV3]], which broadcast mainly in Catalan, were created in 1983.<ref>[http://www.ccma.cat/corporatiu/en/historia/ History of Televisió de Catalunya] ccma.cat</ref> The Catalan government also provides subsidies to various means of promoting Catalan culture, including for example the making of Catalan-language films or the [[subtitles|subtitling]] of foreign-language films in Catalan.

In 1992 Barcelona hosted the [[1992 Summer Olympics|Summer Olympics]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games|url=https://www.britannica.com/event/Barcelona-1992-Olympic-Games|website=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=25 July 2017|language=en}}</ref> which brought international attention to Catalonia. During the 1990s, the absence of absolute majorities in the [[Cortes Generales|Spanish parliament]] made governments reliant on support from the various nationalist parties (Catalan, Basque, [[Canary Islands]], etc.) which was leveraged by CiU, to broaden the scope of Catalan autonomy during the last government of [[Felipe González]] (1993–1996) and the first of [[José María Aznar]] (1996–2000).

In November 2003, elections to the Generalitat gave the plurality, but not the majority of seats to CiU. Three other parties ([[Socialists' Party of Catalonia]]–[[Spanish Socialist Workers' Party]], PSC-PSOE, [[Republican Left of Catalonia]] (ERC) and [[Initiative for Catalonia Greens]] (ICV)) united to take the government into a left-wing nationalist coalition, making [[Pasqual Maragall]], (PSC-PSOE) the new president of Catalonia. This government proved unstable, especially on the issue of reforming the [[Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia]]. The Statute was approved by the Parliament of Catalonia on 30 September 2005, and subsequently it was sent to the Cortes Generales for review and discussion. They approved the law on 10 May  2006, on 18 June Catalan citizens ratified the Statute, and have been in force since 9 August 2006. The new Statute of Autonomy consolidated the self-government, and included the definition of Catalonia as a nation in the preamble.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5091572.stm Catalonia endorses autonomy plan] news.bbc.co.uk</ref> The internal tensions of Catalan Government provoked new elections, held in autumn 2006. The result was again a plurality, but not a majority, for CiU, and PSC-PSOE, ERC and ICV again formed a coalition, with [[José Montilla]] (PSC-PSOE) as president.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120629100529/http://actualidad.terra.es/especiales/elecciones-catalanas-2006/articulo/psc_erc_icv-euia_1188684.htm PSC, ERC e ICV-EUiA llegan a un acuerdo para reeditar el tripartito.] actualidad.terra.es</ref>

On 16 September 2005, the [[ICANN]] officially approved the [[.cat|domain.cat]], the first domain for a [[language community]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Aprovació del domini .cat |url=http://fundacio.cat/ca/historia |trans-title=Approval of the .cat domain |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701193902/http://fundacio.cat/ca/historia |archive-date=2018-07-01 |language=ca |website=Història |publisher=Fundació puntCAT}}</ref>

=== Independence process ===
{{Main|Catalan independence}}
[[File:11s2012 Via Laietana.JPG|thumb|right|The 2012 Catalan independence demonstration]]

The new Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia, approved by referendum, was contested by important sectors of the Spanish nationalism and the conservative [[People's Party (Spain)|People's Party]], sending the law to the partisan Constitutional Court of Spain which, in 2010, decided to declare nonvalid some of the articles that established an autonomous Catalan system of Justice, aspects of the financing, the status of the Catalan language or the references of Catalonia as a nation.<ref>[http://www.ccma.cat/324/Els-articles-anullats-per-inconstitucionals/noticia/747106/ Els articles anul·lats per inconstitucionals.] ccma.cat</ref> As a response, on 10 July 2010, a [[2010 Catalan autonomy protest|successful demonstration]] was held, and the civil society started a process of organization in order to exert the right of self-determination. While the economic crisis affected profoundly Spain, CiU win the [[2010 Catalan regional election|Catalan election of 2010]], promising a fiscal agreement [[Basque Economic Agreement|similar to the Basque]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mas |first1=Artur |title=Pacto fiscal catalán |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/elecciones-catalanas-2010/20101012/54022382741/pacto-fiscal-catalan.html |access-date=27 January 2019 |work=La Vanguardia |date=12 October 2010}}</ref> Its leader, [[Artur Mas]], was appointed as president. Initially supported by the PP, his government carried out a program of austerity. During the National Day of Catalonia, on 11 September 2012, a [[2012 Catalan independence demonstration|massive demonstration]] in the streets of Barcelona organized by the organization Catalan National Assembly (''[[Assemblea Nacional Catalana]]'', ANC) claimed for independence and a referendum of self-determination.<ref>{{cite news|last=Khazan |first=Olga |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/blogpost/post/catalonia-rallies-for-independence-on-catalan-national-day/2012/09/11/ac729d80-fc24-11e1-a31e-804fccb658f9_blog.html |title=Catalonia rallies for independence on 'Catalan National Day' |newspaper=The Washington Post|date=11 September 2012 |access-date=14 September 2012}}</ref>

On 23 January 2013, parliament approved a [[Catalan Sovereignty Declaration|Declaration on the Sovereignty and right to decide of the people of Catalonia]] asserting that Catalonia is a sovereign entity and calls for a referendum on independence.<ref>{{cite web|title=Catalonia declares itself a sovereign entity|url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/catalonia-declares-itself-sovereign-entity|agency=Associated Press|access-date=23 January 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The Catalan Parliament approves the 'Declaration of sovereignty and the right to self-determination by the people of Catalonia'|url=http://www.catalannewsagency.com/politics/item/the-catalan-parliament-approves-the-declaration-of-sovereignty-and-the-right-to-self-determination-by-the-people-of-catalonia|publisher=Catalan News Agency|date=23 January 2013|access-date=10 November 2015}}</ref> After the impediments of Spanish institutions, on 9 November 2014 the [[Government of Catalonia]] organized the [[2014 Catalan self-determination referendum|independence referendum]], in which allegedly 1.6 million out of potential 5.4 million voters or 80.8% of the 2.25 million cast votes supported the independence option (as per unofficial records).<ref>{{cite web|title=2.25 million Catalans participate in non-binding vote, independence option won with 80% support |url=http://www.catalannewsagency.com/politics/item/2-25-million-catalans-participate-in-non-binding-vote-independence-option-won-with-80-support|publisher=Catalan News Agency|date=10 November 2014|access-date=10 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Catalonia independence: 80% vote to split from Spain|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/catalonia-independence-80-vote-to-split-from-spain-9850332.html|newspaper=The Independent|date=10 November 2014|access-date=10 November 2015}}</ref>

On 9 November 2015, parliament approved a [[Declaration to start the independence process of Catalonia]] asserting the start of the process to create an independent Catalan state in the form of a republic.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Parliament declares the start of the independence process|url=http://www.catalannewsagency.com/politics/item/the-parliament-declares-the-start-of-the-independence-process|publisher=Catalan News Agency|date=9 November 2015|access-date=10 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Catalonia launches process of separation from Spain|url=http://english.vilaweb.cat/noticies/catalonia-launches-process-of-separation-from-spain/|publisher=VilaWeb|date=9 November 2015|access-date=10 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Catalonia's parliament votes to begin setting up an independent state|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain/11984516/Catalonias-parliament-votes-to-begin-setting-up-an-independent-state.html|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=9 November 2015|access-date=10 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=In Catalonia, the Independence Process Begins|url=https://www.stratfor.com/analysis/catalonia-independence-process-begins|publisher=Stratfor|date=9 November 2015|access-date=10 November 2015}}</ref>

===2017 Independence referendum===
{{Infobox country
| conventional_long_name = Catalan Republic
| common_name = Catalonia
| native_name = República Catalana
| image_flag = Flag of Catalonia.svg
| image_coat = Seal of the Generalitat of Catalonia.svg
| symbol_type = [[Seal of the Generalitat de Catalunya|Seal]]
| national_anthem = [[Els Segadors]] <small>(''The Reapers'')</small>
| image_map = Catalonia location map.png
| alt_map = Location of the Catalan Republic within Europe.
| map_caption = Location of the Catalan Republic within Europe.
| largest_city = [[Barcelona]]
| official_languages = [[Catalan language|Catalan]], [[Occitan language|Occitan]], [[Spanish language|Spanish]]
| leader_title1 = President
| leader_name1 = [[Carles Puigdemont]]
| leader_title2 = Vice President
| leader_name2 = [[Oriol Junqueras]]
| legislature = [[Parliament of Catalonia|Parliament]]
| sovereignty_type = [[List of states with limited recognition|Unrecognised State]]
| established_event1 = [[Catalan independence referendum, 2017|Independence referendum]]
| established_date1 = 1 October 2017
| established_event2 = [[Catalan declaration of independence|Proclaimed independence]]
| established_date2 = 27 October 2017
| established_event3 = Independence suspended
| established_date3 = 27 October 2017
| population_census = 7.523 million
| population_estimate_year = 2016
| population_census_year = 2016
| status = Unrecognised
| p1 = Spain
| flag_p1 = Bandera de España.svg
| s1 = Spain
| flag_s1 = Bandera de España.svg
}}
A controversial [[2017 Catalan independence referendum|independence referendum]] was held in Catalonia on 1 October 2017, using a disputed voting process.<ref name="ElPais03102017">{{cite web|url=https://elpais.com/elpais/2017/10/01/inenglish/1506858911_482600.html|title=Did the referendum comply with basic voting regulations?|date=3 October 2017|work=[[El País]]|access-date=5 October 2017}}</ref><ref name="TheIndependent02102017">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/catalan-independence-referendum-not-legal-spanish-constitution-european-commission-juncker-spain-law-a7978386.html|title=The EU Commission just said the Catalan referendum was illegal|date=2 October 2017|work=[[The Independent]]|access-date=7 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/happened-catalonias-vote-independence-whats-next/|title=What happened with Catalonia's vote for independence – and what's next|last=Epatko|first=Larisa|date=4 October 2017|work=[[PBS NewsHour]]|access-date=4 October 2017}}</ref> It was declared illegal on 6 September 2017 and suspended by the [[Constitutional Court of Spain]] because it breached the [[Spanish Constitution of 1978|Spanish Constitution]].<ref name="boe2162017">{{cite web|url=https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/2017/09/08/pdfs/BOE-A-2017-10287.pdf|title=Recurso de inconstitucionalidad n.º 4334-2017, contra la Ley del Parlamento de Cataluña 19/2017, de 6 de septiembre, del Referéndum de Autodeterminación.|date=6 September 2017|publisher=Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado|language=es|access-date=5 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-10/catalan-separatists-plot-show-of-strength-in-battle-with-madrid|title=Catalan Separatists Plot Show of Force in Battle With Madrid|last=Duarte|first=Esteban|date=11 September 2017|access-date=13 September 2017|publisher=Bloomberg|language=en}}</ref> Subsequently, the [[European Commission]] agreed that the referendum was illegal.<ref name="TheIndependent02102017" /> The referendum asked the question: "Do you want Catalonia to become an independent state in the form of a republic?". More than 2,020,000 voters (91.96%) answered "Yes" and around 177,000 answered "No",<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/10/01/catalan-independence-referendum-government-says-90-percent-voted-to-leave-spain.html|title=Catalan government says 90 percent voted to leave Spain|date=2 October 2017|publisher=CNBC}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.global-gathering.com/news/18001?gclid=Cj0KCQjw09zOBRCqARIsAH8XF1ZZdibMppQLicvaMJVEE4XpAWYe2qmdq1jZ2_1nABiPx282YKCc1P8aAnn0EALw_wcB|title=Catalan Parliament Moves To Declare Independence From Spain – Global Gathering|publisher=global-gathering.com|access-date=2018-08-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180802193324/http://www.global-gathering.com/news/18001?gclid=Cj0KCQjw09zOBRCqARIsAH8XF1ZZdibMppQLicvaMJVEE4XpAWYe2qmdq1jZ2_1nABiPx282YKCc1P8aAnn0EALw_wcB|archive-date=2018-08-02|url-status=dead}}</ref> on a turnout of 43.03%. The Catalan government estimated that up to 770,000 votes were not cast due to polling stations being closed off during the police crackdown, although the "universal census" system introduced earlier in the day allowed electors to vote in any given polling station. Catalan government officials have argued that the turnout would be higher were it not for Spanish police suppression of the vote of the illegal referendum,<ref name="TurullSays">{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/01/europe/catalonia-spain-independence-referendum-result/index.html|title=Catalonia referendum plunges Spain into political crisis|author=Hilary Clarke, Isa Soares and Vasco Cotovio|date=2 October 2017|access-date=4 October 2017|agency=[[CNN]]|quote=Turnout was about 42% of the 5.3 million eligible voters... Turull said more people would have voted had it not been for Spanish police suppression. Up to 770,000 votes were lost as a result of the crackdowns at police stations, the Catalan government estimated.}}</ref> and that were it not for closures and police successful intervention to siege the illegal votes. Up to 770,000 votes were lost as a result of the crackdowns at police stations, the Catalan government estimated, and that were it not for closures and police pressure and disproportionate violence (it is estimated that around 1,000 people were injured during that day),<ref name="Naciodigital20102017">{{cite news |date=October 2017 |title=Balanç de les càrregues de l'1-O: 1.066 ferits, 23 d'ells més grans de 79 anys i dos menors d'11 |language=ca |url=http://www.naciodigital.cat/sabadell/noticia/14311/balanc/carregues/1-o/1066/ferits/23/ells/grans/79/anys/dos/menors/11 |access-date=29 October 2017 |work=Nació Digital |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171022033019/http://www.naciodigital.cat/sabadell/noticia/14311/balanc/carregues/1-o/1066/ferits/23/ells/grans/79/anys/dos/menors/11 |archive-date=22 October 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> turnout could have been as high as 55%.<ref name="Ara">{{cite news |url=http://www.ara.cat/politica/independencai-simposa-vots_0_1879612291.html|title=El 'sí' a la independència s'imposa amb 2.020.144 vots, el 90%|author=Gerard Pruina |date=2 October 2017|access-date=4 October 2017 |agency=Ara.Cat|quote="Els encarregats de donar els resultats des del Centre Internacional de Premsa, el vicepresident, Oriol Junqueras; el conseller de la Presidència, Jordi Turull, i el conseller d'Exteriors, Raül Romeva, han remarcat contínuament que, tot i que els 2.248.000 vots no suposen 'per se' el 50% del cens, els càlculs dels experts apunten que sense pressió policial i tancament de col·legis s'hauria pogut arribar al 55% de participació."}}</ref> On the other hand, many voters who did not support Catalan independence did not turn out.<ref name="auto">{{cite news |last1=Erickson |first1=Amanda |date=30 September 2017 |title=Catalonia independence vote: What you need to know |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/09/30/catalonia-independence-referendum-spain/ |access-date=2 October 2017}}</ref>

[[File:President Puigdemont, "Ciutadans de Catalunya, vénen hores en què a tots ens pertocarà de mantenir el pols del nostre país" 03.jpg|thumb|left|Presidents [[Puigdemont]] and [[Carme Forcadell|Forcadell]] after the Catalan parliament approved the independence]]
Catalonia declared independence.<ref>{{cite web |title=Catalonia independence: All the latest updates |url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/10/catalonia-independence-171027145635868.html |publisher=AlJazeera |date=27 October 2017 |access-date=27 October 2015}}</ref>
The independence motion was passed on 27 October 2017 in the Catalan assembly. The results of the parties remaining were with 70 votes in favour, 10 against and two blank ballots. Just hours after the Catalan declaration of independence, the Spanish Senate invoked Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution and authorised Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's government to impose direct rule over Catalonia. Rajoy declared the dissolution of the Catalan Parliament and dismissed Catalonia's Government, including its president, Carles Puigdemont. Rajoy called a snap [[2017 Catalan regional election|Catalan parliamentary election for 21 December 2017]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Ponce de León |first=Rodrigo |date=27 October 2017 |title=Rajoy cesa a Puigdemont y su Govern y convoca elecciones para el 21 de diciembre |url=http://www.eldiario.es/politica/Rajoy-cesa-Puigdemont-Govern_0_701680927.html |language=es |work=eldiario.es |access-date=27 October 2017}}</ref>

Spanish Deputy Prime Minister [[Soraya Saenz de Santamaria]] was chosen to assume the functions of the President of Catalonia,<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-41788406 |title=Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría – Madrid's enforcer for Catalonia |date=28 October 2017|work=BBC News|access-date=28 October 2017|language=en-GB}}</ref> as part of the actions that resulted after the activation of Article 155. Santamaria was vested total control over the Catalan administration in addition to being appointed president. [[Josep Lluís Trapero Álvarez|Josep Lluís Trapero]] was also relieved of his duty as chief of the Catalan police force.<ref>{{cite web |title=Spanish PM removes Catalan regional premier from post, calls December 21 polls |url=https://elpais.com/elpais/2017/10/28/inenglish/1509171087_827308.html |work=elpais.es |date=28 October 2017}}</ref>

On 1 May 2018 [[Quim Torra]] was elected President of Catalonia after the Spanish courts blocked the election of [[Carles Puigdemont]], who had the support of the Catalan Parliament after the [[2017 Catalan regional election|December election]]; [[Jordi Turull]], and [[Jordi Sànchez]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Catalans elect new separatist leader Quim Torra|work=[[BBC News]]|date=14 May 2018 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-44109500 |access-date=24 September 2018 |location=London}}</ref> Carles Puigdemont was declared non-legible after fleeing the Spanish judiciary system. Jordi Sànchez was declared non-ilegible since he was in jail awaiting trial and Jordi Turull was summoned to court and kept in jail half-way through the investiture debate.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.elnacional.cat/ca/politica/investidures-fallides-temps-descompte-tendencia-2012_592592_102.html |title=Investidures en temps de descompte, la tònica a Catalunya des del 2012| date=21 March 2021}}</ref>

On 1 June 2018 a [[2018 vote of no confidence in the government of Mariano Rajoy|motion of no confidence]] in the Spanish government was successful, and resulted in the downfall of [[Mariano Rajoy]] and in socialist leader [[Pedro Sánchez (politician)|Pedro Sánchez]] becoming new prime minister of Spain. Catalan nationalist parties were a key support to the downfall of Rajoy.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Robles |first1=Gemma |last2=Santos |first2=Pilar |last3=Sánchez |first3=Rosa María |date=25 May 2018 |title=ERC y PDeCAT se inclinan por apoyar la moción de censura de Sánchez contra Rajoy |url=https://www.eldiario.es/catalunya/politica/ERC-PDeCAT-inclinan-Sanchez-Rajoy_0_775172774.html |language=es |work=eldiario.es |access-date=25 May 2018}}</ref>