Catalan Party Calls for 'Civil Disobedience' as Madrid Invokes Article 155

MADRID (Sputnik) — The left-wing pro-independence Popular Unity Candidacy (CUP) party has called for "mass civil disobedience" in a statement on Monday amid the Spanish government's preparations to invoke Article 155 of the constitution, stressing that it means a "non-violent fight."

The CUP's statement has described Madrid's plan to impose direct rule over the region, which voted in favor of independence earlier in October, as "the largest aggression against civil, personal and collective rights," adding that "mass civil disobedience on the part of the civil society will be the answer."

According to the CUP, the use of Article 155 is "directed against the majority that supports independence but also against the faction of society that does not support independence."

The CUP, which has 10 seats in a 135-seat Catalan parliament is urging the authorities to proclaim the republic "as soon as possible," stressing that it would be a legitimate move, given that about 90 percent of roughly 2.2 million residents of Catalonia who cast their ballots on October 1, chose independence.

READ MORE: Invoking Article 155 Is 'Worst Attack' on Catalonia in Centuries

The Spanish government decided at the emergency meeting on Saturday to invoke Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution, which envisages suspension of some of Catalonia's autonomy under specific conditions, in particular, dismissing head of Catalan government Carles Puigdemont, dissolving the regional parliament and holding snap elections. However, the Senate's approval is required to introduce direct rule over Catalonia cannot be secured earlier than Friday.

Commenting on the move, Puigdemont said on Sunday that Catalan institutions had been repeatedly "attacked" by Madrid and reproached Spanish King Felipe VI for lending his support to these actions of the government.

Catalan Nationalist Republicans Call for Independence Declaration

At the same time, the nationalist Republican Left of Catalonia party on Monday urged the Catalan authorities to declare independence of the autonomous region as a response to Madrid invoking article 155 of the Spanish constitution.

"The best response to article 155 and the coup, which lies in the intention to dismiss the president of the Catalan government and to replace him by a viceroy, to the interference in the state media, will be the declaration of independence and the establishment of the Catalan Republic," Sergi Sabria, the party's national spokesman, said.

According to Sabria, Madrid responded to the Catalan government's proposals to engage in dialogue by "repressions" and the application of Article 155, which, in his opinion, constituted an attempt to usurp the Catalan democratic institutions.

The party has also proposed to form a unity government in Catalonia, which will include not only the representatives of political forces, but also representatives of the civil society.