MADRID—Spain lifted direct rule in Catalonia on Saturday after regional government leaders were sworn in, concluding an unprecedented attempt by Madrid to contain a separatist push that threatened to splinter the country.

Thirteen members of Catalonia’s regional government were sworn in during a ceremony in Barcelona, the capital of Spain’s Catalan region. Regional leader Joaquim “Quim” Torra, a hard-line separatist who was appointed in May, noted in a speech that while direct rule had ended, he and his government were “without...</s>A Catalan pro-independence Estelada flag held by a passerby flutters next to a Catalan Senyera flag outside the Generalitat Palace in Barcelona. Photo: AFP

Catalonia's new separatist government will be sworn in Saturday, the regional presidency announced, which will spark the automatic end of Madrid's direct rule over the region.

Before being toppled by a no-confidence vote in parliament on Friday, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy gave the green light to a new executive in Catalonia that does not include jailed or exiled former ministers.

The new ministers will take up their posts on Saturday, the regional government announced.

This will automatically lift direct rule imposed by Madrid after Catalonia's now-deposed leaders tried to break from Spain in October.

The central government last month recognised the powers of newly-elected Catalan president Quim Torra but refused to ratify his choice of councillors because four of them face charges linked to the failed independence drive, calling their nomination "a new provocation".

But earlier this week, Torra nominated a new administration which did not include them.
• Tensions rise on Catalan streets and beaches as divisions over secession deepen



 Quim Torra will lead the new regional government of Catalonia. Photo: AFP

The regional government also said Friday that Torra had filed an official complaint against Rajoy for abuse of power for having blocked the formation of his first government, an "arbitrary decision" without "legal basis," according to him.</s>Newly elected Catalan regional leader Quim Torra speaks to reporters outside the Estremera prison in Estremera Thomson Reuters MADRID (Reuters) - Nationalists regained control of Catalonia's regional government on Saturday as a new cabinet was sworn in, automatically ending just over seven months of direct rule from Madrid by Spain's central government.

The cabinet led by Quim Torra, a close aide to former Catalonia leader Carles Puigdemont, took over on the day Socialist Pedro Sanchez, who has said he wants talks on Catalonia but opposes any independence referendum, was officially sworn in as new Spanish prime minister.

Sanchez' predecessor, the conservative Mariano Rajoy, imposed direct rule over Catalonia at the end of October after nationalists led by Puigdemont held an independence referendum deemed illegal by Spanish courts.

According to the Spanish constitution, direct rule from Madrid was due to end the moment a new regional government was put in place in Barcelona.

It took several tense months, after snap regional elections were held in December, for Catalan nationalists to get a new cabinet approved by the regional parliament and go past Madrid's moves to block any candidate in self-imposed exile, like Puigdemont, or in jail.</s>The new Catalan government led by Quim Torra has officially assumed its powers, thus ending Madrid's direct rule over the autonomous Spanish region.

Quim Torra says that he wants to talk with the new Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez.

The Generalitat's first session will be held on Saturday. Its 13 members have all been sworn in by Torra and promised to perform their duties in accordance with the law.

In late May, Madrid refused to recognize a cabinet proposed by Torra, which included exiled and imprisoned Catalan politicians. Torra said the actions of the Spanish government broke the law and violated his political rights.

He took the oath of office on May 17 but did not swear allegiance to either the Spanish king or constitution.

Nevertheless, the Spanish government approved Torra's second Cabinet list. On Friday, a decree on new regional government appointments was published in the Official Gazette of the Government of Catalonia.</s>BARCELONA: Catalonia's separatist president Quim Torra called on Saturday (Jun 1) for talks with Spain's new prime minister, as his regional executive was sworn in at an emotional ceremony full of pro-independence symbolism.

The swearing-in will automatically bring an end to Madrid's direct rule over the wealthy, northeastern region of Catalonia, imposed in October after a failed bid to break away from Spain.

"Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, let's talk, let's address this issue, let's take risks, you and us," Torra said, just minutes after Sanchez himself was sworn in in Madrid.

Sanchez takes office after ousting veteran conservative leader Mariano Rajoy from power in a no-confidence vote on Friday.

"We need to sit down at the same table and negotiate, government to government," Torra said. "This situation we're going through cannot go on for even one more day."

Sanchez, a 46-year-old economist who as opposition leader was sharply critical of Catalonia's secession bid, has promised to try to "build bridges" with the region's new government which is still determined to work towards independence.

Torra's call for talks came as his handpicked 13 councillors took oath in the regional presidency in Barcelona - some of them wearing yellow, the colour that has come to symbolise the separatist cause.

"Do you promise to faithfully fulfil the duties of the post you're taking on at the service of Catalonia in accordance with the law and with loyalty to Catalonia's regional president?", Torra asked each one.

"Yes I promise," they responded to strong applause.

An empty chair with a yellow ribbon stood in the chamber to represent Catalan separatists who are in jail over their role in last autumn's independence push and those, like ousted Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont, who fled abroad.

Letters were read out by loved ones of those affected, during a ceremony that saw several onlookers break down in tears.

Later, a banner reading "Free political prisoners and exiles" was unravelled and hung on the regional government building.

The swearing-in ends months of political limbo in the northeastern region after the independence bid last October caused Spain's biggest political crisis in decades.

Under the terms of emergency legislation brought in to take over the Catalan administration, Madrid must lift direct rule once a Catalan government is fully formed and cabinet members are sworn in.

Spain's central government last month recognised the powers of newly-elected Catalan president Torra but refused to ratify his first choice of councillors because four of them face charges linked to the failed independence drive. The Spanish government called their nomination "a new provocation".

Earlier this week, Torra nominated a new administration which did not include them, prompting Madrid to give its green light.

The 55-year-old former editor has been under pressure from some segments of his own separatist camp to adopt a more conciliatory stance, in order to allow a new Catalan government to take office and end Madrid's direct rule.

Torra was chosen by Puigdemont to be Catalonia's next leader after separatist parties kept their absolute majority in regional elections in December.

The election result was a severe blow to the Spanish government. It had called the polls in the hope of heading off the secessionist push in the region, which is home to around 7.5 million people and is about the size of Belgium.

Puigdemont is currently in Berlin awaiting potential extradition to Spain, where he faces jail on charges of rebellion and misuse of public funds.</s>According to government’s press service, the ceremony will start at 11:30 a.m. local time (09:30 GMT) in Catalan government’s palace. It will be attended by 13 new ministers along with their families, as well as newly elected Catalan President Quim Torra and President of the Catalan Parliament Roger Torrent. After the ceremony, the new government will hold its first working meeting.

Earlier on Friday, in the Official Gazette of the Government of Catalonia, the Spanish government published a decree on the new regional government appointments, El Confidencial reported. The document, which comes into force today, includes names and positions of new Catalan government members. According to the newspaper, this decree effectively revokes Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution, under which Madrid imposed direct rule over the autonomous region late last year.

Two days later, the newly-elected president announced his new government. The posts were mainly given to former advisers of his predecessor Carles Puigdemont, two of whom are currently in pre-trial detention in Madrid, and two others who are in exile in Belgium. The politicians are facing charges related to the October 1 independence referendum.

Madrid was not satisfied with the initial list, classifying the decision to give individuals who are "evading justice" or currently in pre-trial detention government positions as a "provocation." Madrid also stated that only the central government was eligible to authorize a decree on government appointments and would analyze the relevant document published by the Catalan authorities.

As a result, Torra postponed putting the new government into power and, on Tuesday, signed a new decree, which did not include the four politicians facing charges in Spain. The central government then published the revised decree earlier on Friday.

On October 1, Catalonia held an independence referendum, which was not recognized by the central authorities. The results showed that the majority of Catalans supported secession, and the regional parliament unilaterally announced independence later in October. In response, Madrid imposed direct rule over the autonomous region, dissolved the Catalan parliament and called a snap election. Several pro-independence leaders were jailed, while others fled the country.
The new Catalan regional government takes office in Barcelona. The 7-month-long application of Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution is thus lifted, meaning that direct rule is over.