The Catalan regional parliament has voted to declare independence from Spain.
A motion saying they are going to establish an independent Catalan Republic passed by 70 votes to 10.
However, most opposition lawmakers had left the chamber in protest.
The moment the Catalan parliament votes to declare independence from Spain https://t.co/SsFrYwEEtk pic.twitter.com/MFAr93UDau
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) October 27, 2017
Barely an hour after the regional vote, the Spanish senate voted to grant permission to the Spanish government to strip Catalonia of its powers and impose direct control.
They are the latest developments in the crisis that has developed in the wake of a disputed Catalan independence referendum earlier this month.
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy urged calm in the wake of the historic Catalan vote.
He insisted that legality would be restored in the region.
Rajoy is looking to invoke Article 155 of the Spanish constitution, which would allow him to remove Catalan president Carles Puigdemont and other regional leaders.
Pido tranquilidad a todos los españoles. El Estado de Derecho restaurará la legalidad en Cataluña. MR
— Mariano Rajoy Brey (@marianorajoy) October 27, 2017
