Catalonia and Spanish government escalate battle of wills over independence referendum

 Catalonia and Spanish government escalate battle of wills over independence referendum
 MADRID — Spanish police reinforcements are pouring into the rebellious northeast region of Catalonia to control major protests expected to result from government efforts to abort an independence referendum that local authorities called for Sunday.

The battle of wills appeared to be escalating two days ahead of the planned vote, with Catalonian officials vowing to go ahead with a referendum that would effectively mean the secession of Spain’s richest region, while federal officials in Madrid sound just as determined to stop them.
“The [Catalan] government’s commitment is very clear: People will be able to vote,” Joaquin Forn, the regional interior minister, told reporters Thursday in Barcelona, the main city in the region.
But Spanish officials are just as adamant. Following a meeting of top regional and national security officials in Barcelona on Thursday, Spanish junior Interior Minister Jose Antonio Nieto said peaceful demonstrations — but not a vote — will be permitted.
“On Sunday it will be possible to celebrate, everybody in a different way, through a picnic or a demonstration, and to express a sentiment, but there will be no breach of the law,” he told a news conference.
The growing crisis in Catalonia took center stage Tuesday at a White House press conference, where President Trump strongly backed Spain’s unity while hosting visiting Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.