BACKGROUND Post-referendum measures imposed on Catalonia by Spanish government

Madrid/Barcelona (dpa) - Spain‘s north-eastern region of Catalonia, which usually enjoys considerable autonomy, has been under Madrid‘s direct rule since the end of October.The measures were approved by the Senate in response to the passing of an independence motion by the Catalan parliament on October 27.The legal basis for direct rule lies with Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution, which was used for the first time in 40 years of Spanish democracy. The early elections in Catalonia on Thursday are intended to normalize the situation. The most important measures:- Catalonia‘s separatist regional government led by Carles Puigdemont was deposed. Apart from President Puigdemont and Vice President Oriol Junqueras, the remaining 12 members of the Barcelona government were relieved of their posts. A total of 150 government members of staff were sacked. Several regional ministers were detained on charges of rebellion. Puigdemont left Spain for Brussels. Junqueras and former interior minister Joaquim Forn are still in detention.- Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy took over the powers of the regional presidency, with Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria assuming day-to-day responsibility for Catalonian affairs. The state secretaries in the respective Madrid ministries took over the running of the regional departments.- Following the dissolution of the Barcelona regional parliament, Rajoy called early elections. Until the new legislature is constituted, the previous president of the parliament, Carme Forcadell, is heading the standing committee, parliament‘s representative body between legislative periods.- The chiefs of the Catalan police unit Mossos d‘Esquadra, Pere Soler and Josep Lluis Trapero, were dismissed.- Madrid took charge of the financial and other authorities, with all payments relating to the autonomous region, including salaries, being made from Madrid.- Thirteen of Catalonia‘s 14 representative offices abroad were closed. The region‘s delegation in Brussels was allowed to remain open to continue business under the control of Madrid.