Spain in crisis - Politics offers only solution

The crisis in Catalonia has gathered a dangerous momentum. 

How Catalonia, or at least those in Catalonia who wish to secede from Spain, reacts to the weekend decision by the Spanish government to strip the Catalan government of its autonomy and impose direct rule will define whether tensions escalate or create a window of opportunity to resolve the impasse.

Spain’s foreign minister, Alfonso Dastis, yesterday said the government was trying, “reluctantly”, to reinstate order in Catalonia following the unilateral independence referendum held on October 1.