At first glance, the changed little.
Spain
All three competing blocs in the intensely polarised December 21 Catalan election are working feverishly to win in a battle shaped by Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy鈥檚 October 27 sacking of the Catalan government.
The struggle in Catalonia for self determination has shaken the whole Spanish state. It has forced all political forces to take a stance.
Much of the left across the Spanish state, while not supporting the repression of the right-wing government of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, have also not supported Catalonia鈥檚 independence process.
The December 21 election in Catalonia will not only decide if pro-independence forces can return to administer this region of the Spanish state: it will also decide if the Spanish state鈥檚 own underlying crisis of legitimacy intensifies or starts to fade.
In essence, the election will be a plebiscite on the central Spanish government鈥檚 takeover of the Catalan government under article 155 of the Spanish constitution and whether a majority think Catalonia has a right to decide its relation to the Spanish state.
Road and rail blockades organised by the Committees in Defence of the Republic (CDR) paralysed traffic movement across Catalonia on November 8.
The blockades were part of a day of protest action aimed against the Spanish government鈥檚 takeover of the Catalan government and parliament, and the detention of eight Catalan government ministers.
Live coverage of the struggle for independence in Catalonia from听Dick Nichols, European correspondent of 91自拍论坛 Weekly and Links--International Journal of Socialist Renewal, based in Barcelona.
Just after 3pm on October 27, the Catalan parliament voted to ratify the results of the country鈥檚 October 1 referendum on self-determination, proclaiming Catalonia 鈥渁n independent state in the form of a republic鈥.
Outside parliament the vote was greeted with cheers from the tens of thousands of people who had gathered for this historic moment.
The Spanish People鈥檚 Party (PP) government of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has decided to implement direct rule in Catalonia.
In implementing article 155 of the Spanish constitution, which allows central government intervention in regional governments, Rajoy has the full support of the opposition Spanish Socialist Workers鈥 Party (PSOE) and the new-right party Citizens. The unprecedented intervention is the first since the present Spanish constitution was adopted in 1978.
A common feature of the rallies that have taken place following Catalonia鈥檚 historic October 1 vote for independence has been the outpouring of support for Catalonia鈥檚 firefighters, who played a critical role in the lead up to and during the referendum.
Catalonia鈥檚 firefighters are now calling on firefighters around the world to support their cause.
Catalan Premier Carles Puigdemont officially declared an independent Catalan republic on October 10, only to announce a suspension in its implementation to allow for talks with Madrid.
The harsh reply of the conservative People鈥檚 Party (PP) government of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy came two days later: abandon all thought of secession or see Catalan self-rule erased under article 155 of the Spanish constitution.
Is it possible to have a successful referendum when your country is effectively occupied by 10,000 police and paramilitaries with orders to stop it?
The holding of Catalonia鈥檚 October 1 referendum on independence shows it is: all you need is a mobilised people with a clear view of where they are going, Europe鈥檚 most powerful and persistent social movement to help guide them, and a government committed to carrying out its promises.
Businesses听ground听to a halt in Barcelona and across Catalonia on October 3, as a general strike was observed and protesters poured into the streets. Two days after the Spanish government authorized听听to disrupt a referendum on independence from Spain, Catalans for and against secession remain livid.
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