Spain's PM says may use constitution to block Catalan independence
Mariano Rajoy
MADRID/BARCELONA (Reuters) -  Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy  said on Saturday  he  would not rule out using the constitutional powers to remove Cataloniaâs autonomous status if it claimed independence as tens of thousands took to the streets to call for talks.
Until now   Rajoy  has remained vague on whether  he  would use article 155  the so-called nuclear option  of the constitution which enables  him  to sack the regional government and call a fresh local election.
In an interview with Spanish newspaper El Pais on Saturday  Rajoy  was asked if  he  was ready to trigger the article 155 of the constitution  and said: âI donât rule out absolutely anything that is within the law ... Ideally  it shouldnât be necessary to implement extreme solutions but for that not to happen things would have to be changed.â
While Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont has said he is open to mediation   Rajoy  has demanded  he  give up the independence campaign before discussions can be held.
 Rajoy âs government mobilized thousands of national police to stop Sundayâs vote  leading to clashes with would-be voters as they tried to close polling stations in schools and remove ballot boxes.
In the El Pais interview   Rajoy  said the around 4 000 extra police shipped in to the region would stay until the conflict had been resolved.
MADRID/BARCELONA (Reuters) -   [TGT] said on Saturday   [TGT]   would not rule out using the constitutional powers to remove Cataloniaâs autonomous status if it claimed independence as tens of thousands took to the streets to call for talks.
Until now    [TGT] has remained vague on whether   [TGT]   would use article 155  the so-called nuclear option  of the constitution which enables   [TGT]   to sack the regional government and call a fresh local election.
In an interview with Spanish newspaper El Pais on Saturday   [TGT] was asked if   [TGT]   was ready to trigger the article 155 of the constitution  and said: âI donât rule out absolutely anything that is within the law ... Ideally  it shouldnât be necessary to implement extreme solutions but for that not to happen things would have to be changed.â
While Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont has said he is open to mediation    [TGT] has demanded   [TGT]   give up the independence campaign before discussions can be held.
 Rajoy âs government mobilized thousands of national police to stop Sundayâs vote  leading to clashes with would-be voters as they tried to close polling stations in schools and remove ballot boxes.
In the El Pais interview    [TGT] said the around 4 000 extra police shipped in to the region would stay until the conflict had been resolved.