- 16 Sep 2017 03:51
#14843983
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-41284764
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The Spanish government has given the regional government in Catalonia 48 hours to abandon "illegal" referendum plans or lose budgetary powers.
Finance Minister Cristóbal Montoro said a mechanism had been approved for the state to take control of the autonomous region's finances.
Madrid is seeking to stop the Catalan government spending public money on its planned independence referendum.
The Catalans are defying a court order to suspend the 1 October vote.
Catalan President Carles Puigdemont launched his campaign for a "Yes" vote on Thursday night in the town of Tarragona, telling a rally at a former bullring: "Vote, and in so doing bring light to darkness that has lasted for too many years."
The crowd shouted back, "Independence", "We will vote" and "We're not afraid", AFP news agency reports.
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy was taking the unionist cause directly to Barcelona on Friday, addressing a meeting of his Popular Party in the Catalan capital.
If the deadline is not met, the central government will take over the funding of most essential public services in the region, Mr Montoro said.
"These measures are to guarantee that not one euro will go toward financing illegal acts," he was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency after a cabinet meeting in Madrid.
The takeover would last as long as the "situation", he explained.
Public finances are a particularly sore point for Catalans who for years have contributed more to the state budget than they get back in spending on public services.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-41284764
Discuss.