Spain's People's Party urges for more direct rule in Catalonia

Spain's People's Party wants a new period of direct rule in Catalonia. Its president, Pablo Casado, offered his absolute majority in the Spanish Senate to suspend again the Catalan self-government.

This, as a reaction to the million-strong pro-independence demonstration on Tuesday, which he defined as a "sectarian coven."

For Casado, the rally is evidence that the situation in Catalonia might be "worsening." The rumors –already ruled out by President Torra– on the possible release of the political jailed leaders and the fact that the Catalan Parliament will not celebrate its first session of the season until the first week of October are other reasons for him to justify a new period of direct rule.

Pablo Casado also criticized the Spanish foreign minister, Josep Borrell, for having said he would have "personally" preferred the judge not to have sent political leaders to prison.

"There cannot be misunderstandings, I have urged Mr Sánchez [Spanish president] to give up appeasement," he said talking to the press.

For direct rule to be enforced again the Spanish government would need to make a prior official request to the Catalan authorities and then take the issue to the Senate for it to ratify it.