Spain to Take Action to ‘Restore Law’ if Catalonia Secedes – Deputy PM

The Spanish government will try to cause the "least possible damage" in connection with Catalonia's unilateral decision on independence, but will act to restore law in the region.

MADRID (Sputnik) — The Spanish government will take action to "restore law and democracy," if the Catalan parliament unilaterally declares independence, Spanish Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said Monday.

"We will try to cause the least possible damage by our decisions, but let there be no doubt: if independence is declared, decisions will be made for the restoration of law and democracy," the deputy prime minister told the Cadena Cope radio station in an interview.

In turn, the leader of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party Pedro Sanchez said that his party would support the actions of the government, given Catalonia's unilateral independence proclamation, and accused the regional authorities of "attempting to divide society."

On October 1, over 90 percent of the 2.26 million Catalans, who participated in the independence referendum, supported region's secession from Spain. On Tuesday, Catalan parliamentarians are expected to discuss the results of the referendum. Media suggested that the process of declaring independence may be launched during this parliamentary session.