Spain Sets Stage to Take Control of Catalonia in Independence Fight

The rapid succession of events moved what was already one of the gravest crises in Spain's relatively young democracy to a far more serious and unpredictable stage, with the prospect that Madrid could take over the running of Catalonia. At the most extreme, the Spanish government could arrest Mr. Puigdemont and charge him with sedition, as it has done with two other separatist leaders.

But such a step would risk provoking a popular backlash and new street demonstrations in a region where many are already bridling at what they see as a heavy hand by the government of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.

"A bad situation has become even worse today," said Argelia Queralt, a professor of constitutional law at the University of Barcelona. "Neither side seems really willing to yield an inch, which means there is only a very limited chance of any positive outcome to this conflict."

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Last week, Mr. Rajoy initiated a request to invoke a broad and forceful tool that has never before been used -- Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution -- which would allow him to take direct control of Catalonia.

He said he could resort to such a step if Mr. Puigdemont did not clearly back down from a threat to declare independence.

But on Thursday, Mr. Puigdemont sent a defiant letter to Mr. Rajoy, blaming him for escalating the conflict by refusing to meet and negotiate.

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It is unclear what Mr. Rajoy will propose to his cabinet on Saturday, but he may try to gradually raise pressure on the fragile coalition of Catalan separatists rather than risk a forceful intervention that could further galvanize the independence movement.