The Spanish government moved to activate a previously untapped constitutional article today so it can take control of Catalonia, illustrating its determination to derail the independence movement led by separatist politicians in the prosperous industrial region.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s Cabinet was meeting to outline the scope and timing of the measures the government plans to take under Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution. The section allows central authorities to intervene when one of Spain’s 17 autonomous regions fails to comply with the law.

It’s never been used since the 1978 Constitution was adopted, but Rajoy’s conservative government has said that establishing direct control over Catalonia was a move of last resort. The goal is “the return to legality and the recovery of institutional normalcy,” the Spanish Prime Minister said yesterday.

Rajoy could force the removal of Catalan officials and call early regional elections for as soon as January. Such actions are expected to spark angry opposition from supporters of independence and moderate Catalans who will see them as an attack on their autonomy.

The slow-burning constitutional crisis over secession escalated this month when regional government officials claimed a disputed independence referendum held October 1 gave them a legal basis for separating from Spain.

Websites vandalised

The country’s Constitutional Court has so far ruled against all moves toward secession, including the controversial referendum. The court’s website appeared to be offline today and a spokeswoman said it had been affected by vandalism of unknown origin.

Spain’s National Security Department had warned of potential digital vandalism yesterday and said that slogans supporting independence for Catalonia had popped up on a number of government websites.

The Constitutional Court spokeswoman today said that only the court’s website was not working and no internal information was compromised. She requested anonymity in line with internal rules.

Parties united

The referendum vote itself was marred by sporadic violence as police took action to shut down some polling locations. The central government has said that the results have no legitimacy.

Opposition parties have agreed to support the Prime Minister in revoking Catalonia’s autonomy as a way to thwart the independence drive.

Although the ruling Popular Party has a strong enough majority to get the specific measures passed by the country’s Senate, Rajoy has rallied the support of the opposition to give his government’s actions more weight.

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