Catalonia Crisis: Officials 'Will Not Follow Orders From Madrid'

Catalan officials will not follow orders from the Spanish government, the foreign affairs spokesman has said, as Madrid moves to reassert control over the region.

Raul Romeva told the BBC that the central question was not about independence but about democracy.

Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy announced on Saturday plans to sack Catalonia's regional government.

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A referendum outlawed by Spain was held on 1 October in Catalonia.
The Catalan government, led by President Carles Puigdemont, said that of the 43% said to have taken part, 90% were in favour of independence.

Unionist parties who won about 40% of the vote at the 2015 Catalan elections boycotted the ballot and many anti-independence supporters stayed away, arguing it was not valid.

"The people have decided democratically for years what is the government they want, what is the parliament they want. These institutions need to be preserved," Mr Romeva said.

"No-one else but the people has the right to change those institutions."