Spanish Deputy PM takes charge of Catalan government

The Spanish government has stripped Catalonia of its autonomy and Saturday took charge of its government.  An official state bulletin in Madrid dismissed Catalan leaders and handed control of Catalonia to Spain’s Deputy Prime Minister, Soraya Saenz de Santamaria. Earlier, Spain’s interior ministry took control of Catalonia’s police after firing senior Catalan police officials.

The measures came in response to the Catalan parliament vote to declare independence on Friday. Soon after, the Spanish Senate granted the Rajoy government the power to impose direct rule on Catalonia.