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Catalonia's President faces deadline to clarify his position on the region's independence

Spain's Prime Minister has called on the Catalan leader to "act with sanity" ahead of a Madrid-imposed Thursday deadline for the region's declaration of independence.
In comments made to the national parliament on Wednesday, Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy said he would not extend the deadline to wait for a clear answer from Catalonia's president, Carles Puigdemont.

"This requirement is firm and it expires in less than 24 hours and if this is not dealt with, Mr Puigdemont will provoke the application of Article 155 (of the constitution)," Rajoy said.
Invoking Article 155 allows the central government to take back control of regions, such as Catalonia and the Basque Country, that were granted sweeping freedoms after the 1975 downfall of the Franco dictatorship -- if they acted beyond the law or threaten the national interest.
Such a step would almost certainly mean officers from the Guardia Civil, the national security force, being deployed once again in the streets of Catalonia, a provocative act that risks sparking violence.

Divisive act

Shortly after the October 1 referendum -- in which 90% of ballots cast in what Madrid termed an illegal ballot were in favor of independence -- Puigdemont walked back on his pledge to take Catalonia out of Spain, saying that he was instead suspending the declaration in the hopes of talks.
It is unclear what shape those talks might take, or who would mediate them.
The referendum, marred by violence as Spanish police closed polling stations and dragged away Catalans attempting to vote, had a turnout of only 43% of the voter roll -- which Catalan officials blamed on the central government's efforts to stop the vote.
The violent clashes left almost 900 people injured, according to Catalan officials.

Protests

Tens of thousands of people joined a candlelight vigil in Barcelona earlier in the week to protest the detention of two Catalan separatists.
On Monday, Spain's High Court ordered the head of the Catalan National Assembly (ANC), Jordi Sanchez, and the head of Omnium Cultural, Jordi Cuixart, be remanded in custody while they continue to be investigated for sedition.
Footage of Tuesday night's rally in Barcelona shows protesters holding up placards calling for the pair to be freed. They also held up signs saying: "Save Europe" and "Help Catalonia."

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