Spanish central government fires Catalonian government officials, police chiefs

Yesterday, the Catalonian parliament declared independence from Spain; today, the central government in Madrid made good on its promise to impose direct rule on the region, firing the top tier of the government and the chiefs of the police force; Josep Llus Trapero lvarez, chief of the regional police force (Mossos dEsquadra) has been charged with sedition for refusing to block polling places during the independence referendum earlier this week. (more…)