Spanish PM, Rajoy dissolves Catalan parliament | Catalonia Independence

The Spanish PM, Mariano Rajoy is dissolving the Catalan parliament and calling for a quick local elections following MPs there voted to declare independence.

Mariano said the unavoidable imposition of direct rule on Catalonia was necessary to "recover normality". He is as well firing Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont and his cabinet.

Recall, crisis started when Catalan leaders held an independence referendum, pushing aside a ruling by the Constitutional Court which had declared it illegal.

Catalan government said that of the 43% of potential voters who took part, 90% were in support of independence while others boycotted the vote following court ruling.

Meanwhile, on Friday the Spanish Senate granted the Prime Minister, Rajoy Mariano's government the power to impose direct rule on Catalonia...and after an emergency cabinet meeting Mariano highlighted what that would involve.

"The president [Carles Puigdemont] had the opportunity to return to legality and to call elections," he said.

"It is what the majority of the Catalonian people asked for - but he didn't want to do it. So the government of Spain is taking the necessary measures to return to legality."

Regional elections however, is being scheduled for December 21. Mr Mariano in addition had announced the sacking of the Catalan police chief.