Spain faces a crucial test of its authority over Catalonia on Monday when regional government ministries open under the direct control of Madrid for the first time since the country’s return to democracy 40 years ago.
Some Catalan ministers have signalled they will refuse to recognise directives by the Spanish government this weekend removing them from office. Activists have promised to take to the streets and defend ministers as they try and return to work.
Oriol Junqueras, the former number two in the Catalan government, wrote in an open letter in Catalan newspaper El Punt-Avui on Sunday arguing that he and his colleagues were still in power as they were elected by the Catalan people.