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Caixabank decided to move its legal headquarters out of Catalonia earlier this month

Caixabank's profit weathers Catalan storm

Spain's Caixabank today posted a 53.4% rise in nine-month net profit to €1.49 billion, ahead of analysts' forecasts and thanks to the incorporation of Portugal's BPI.

Business • 24 Oct 17

It has been three weeks since Catalans voted to break away from Spain

Spanish foreign minister denies coup against Catalonia

Amid continuing tension in Catalonia, the Spanish Foreign Minister today denied his government's plan to impose direct rule on the region amounted to a political coup d-etat.

World • 23 Oct 17

EU parliament chief 'fears' spread of small nations

European Parliament chief Antonio Tajani said Europe should "fear" the spread of small nations as Spain struggled with the Catalonia crisis as the Italian regions of Lombardy and Veneto voted in referendums on greater autonomy.

Europe • 22 Oct 17

People wave Catalan independence flags while listening to the statement from Carles Puigdemont

Catalonia refuses plan for direct rule from Madrid

The people of Catalonia cannot accept the "illegal" measures taken by the Spanish government to rule the region directly from Madrid, Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont said today, as he called on the regional parliament to act against them.

Europe • 21 Oct 17

Spanish leader Mariano Rajoy is to hold a special cabinet meeting tomorrow

Cross-party support to dissolve Catalan parliament

The Spanish government has secured opposition support to dissolve Catalonia's parliament and hold new elections there in January in an effort to defuse the regional government's push for independence.

Catalonia • 20 Oct 17

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy (left) has called a special cabinet meeting on Saturday that could trigger the move

Spanish government threatens direct rule on Catalonia

Spain's central government has said it would suspend Catalonia's autonomy and impose direct rule after the region's leader threatened to go ahead with a formal declaration of independence if Madrid refused to hold talks.

News • 21 Oct 17

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is ready to invoke article 155 over Catalonia's bid for independence

Leaders at odds as Catalan deadline approaches

Catalonia's regional president has told a meeting of his party he would formally declare independence if Spain starts the process of suspending the region's autonomy tomorrow, a Catalan government source has said.

Europe • 18 Oct 17

Around 200,000 people have taken to the streets of Barcelona for a candle-lit protest

Barcelona rally against separatist leaders' detention

Around 200,000 people took to the streets of Barcelona tonight for a candle-lit protest against the detention of two separatist leaders.

Catalonia • 17 Oct 17

Jordi Sanchez and Jordi Cuixart wave to supporters as they arrive at the court in Madrid

Catalan separatists held in Spanish custody

Spain has moved closer to imposing central rule over Catalonia to thwart its independence push as the high court jailed the leaders of two of the largest separatist organisations.

Europe • 16 Oct 17

The Spanish government has said it will take control of Catalonia if Mr Puigdemont gives an ambiguous reply

Catalan leader calls for calm over declaration deadline

Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont has called for calm less than 24 hours ahead of a deadline from Spain's central government for him to clarify whether he has declared independence for Catalonia or not.

News • 15 Oct 17

Crowds gathered outside the parliament in Catalonia last night, ahead of the signing of the 'symbolic' declaration of independence

Rajoy gives Catalan leader 5 days to clarify position

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy gave Catalonia's separatist leader five days to clarify his position on whether or not he was declaring independence, a government source said.

World • 11 Oct 17

Catalan leader signs suspended independence declaration

Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont and his allies have signed a declaration of independence for the region, which they have suspended pending talks with Madrid, a regional government spokesman has said.

World • 11 Oct 17

People with Spanish and Catalan flags gather during the rally in Barcelona

Hundreds of thousands march for unity in Barcelona

Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets of Catalonia's capital Barcelona yesterday to express their opposition to any declaration of independence from Spain.

Catalonia • 09 Oct 17

People gathered in Madrid today calling for Spanish unity

Demonstrations held in Spain over Catalan secession bid

Tens of thousands of people gathered in Madrid and Barcelona this afternoon as Catalonia prepares to declare independence, calling for talks to defuse Spain's worst political crisis for decades.

Spain • 07 Oct 17

Catalan's pro-independence leader Carles Puigdemont will address the regional assembly on Tuesday

Catalan parliament working on independence declaration

Catalan secessionists were working today towards a unilateral declaration of independence from Spain that could be adopted next week in defiance of a court order and increased economic pressure from Madrid.

Catalonia • 06 Oct 17

Sabadell - Spain's fifth-biggest lender - decided yesterday to move its base from Catalonia to Alicante

Spain makes it easier for firms to move from Catalonia

Spain's government will issue a decree today making it easier for firms to transfer their legal base out of Catalonia, two sources said.

Business • 06 Oct 17

Sabadell is Spain's fifth biggest bank and has its headquarters in Catalonia

Spanish bank mulls moving HQ from Catalonia

Sabadell will consider today whether to shift its headquarters away from Catalonia in the first major sign that the wealthy region's push for independence from Spain could scare away big business.

Business • 05 Oct 17

Pro-independence lawmakers did call for a full regional government session to debate the final vote results

Spain's court suspends Catalan independence session

Spain's Constitutional Court has suspended a session of the Catalan parliament scheduled for Monday in which local leaders were expected to declare Catalonia's unilateral independence from Spain.

News • 05 Oct 17

Catalan leader says he favoured mediation in crisis

Catalan regional leader Carles Puigdemont has said he was in favour of mediation to find a way out of the Catalan crisis but that the Spanish government had not accepted it.

Catalonia • 05 Oct 17

Catalonia to declare independence, leader says

The Catalan government is set to declare independence from Spain in a matter of days, regional leader Carles Puigdemont has said in an interview.

News • 04 Oct 17

Scores of people were hurt in the clashes in Catalonia

Call on Govt to condemn force used in Catalan vote

A Minister of State has called on the Government to call in the Spanish ambassador to Ireland and formally condemn the force used by the country's National Police and Civil Guard during Catalonia's unofficial independence vote.

Catalonia • 02 Oct 17

Catalonia's thriving economy generates one-fifth of the economic output of the eurozone's fourth-biggest economy

Key dates in Catalonia's push for independence

The regional government argues that an independent Catalonia would be richer and better able to protect its language and culture.

Catalonia • 02 Oct 17

Protests in Catalonia over violence by police during the referendum

Catalan leader says poll result must be implemented

The leader of Catalonia has called for international mediation to resolve a standoff with the Spanish government, the day after hundreds of people were injured as police tried to forcibly disrupt a referendum on independence that had been ruled illegal.

Catalonia • 03 Oct 17

Hundreds of people celebrate after the Catalonia independence referendum in Barcelona, Spain

Hundreds injured as Catalans vote on split from Spain

Spanish police used batons and rubber bullets to thwart an independence vote in Catalonia today in a show of force that left hundreds injured, according to Catalan officials, and presented Madrid with a huge challenge to calm tensions in the region.

World • 01 Oct 17

Anti-independence demonstrators gather in Barcelona, Spain

Pro-Spanish unity demonstrators gather in Barcelona

Thousands of pro-unity demonstrators opposing a banned referendum on Catalonian independence from Spain gathered in Barcelona today in a sign of how the disputed vote tomorrow has divided the country.

News • 30 Sep 17