Crisis in Catalonia

Carles Puigdemont, president of the Catalan government, in front of a tens of thousands people march that took the city center of Barcelona 'in defense of rights and freedoms' demanding the release of separatist leaders Jordi Sanchez y Jordi Cuixart, who are being held pending investigations into sedition charges. This midday the Spanish president Mariano Rajoy announced the exceptional application of the 155 article, which represent a package of measures who seek to restore the legality in Catalonia, and the coming dismissal of Carles Puigdemont and Oriol Junqueras. In the other side, the Spanish government is planning to organize an oficial Catalan referendum in less than six months. Photo: Nicolas Carvalho Ochoa/DPA/dpa (Photo by Nicolas Carvalho Ochoa/picture alliance via Getty Images)