CHRONOLOGY Seven years of strife: key dates in the Catalonia crisis

Madrid (dpa) - The secessionist region of Catalonia is at the centre of Spain‘s biggest political crisis since a failed coup d‘etat in 1981. Here is how the stand-off has developed.June 28, 2010: The Constitutional Court strikes down several articles of a statute extending Catalonia‘s autonomy.September 11, 2012: The first pro-independence demonstration is held in Barcelona, attracting more than 1 million people, on the national day of Catalonia. The protest becomes an annual event.November 9, 2014: A first independence referendum is held informally, after the Constitutional Court bans it. Out of 5.4 million eligible voters, more than 2 million turn up, and 80 per cent back secession.September 27, 2015: A pro-independence coalition, Junts Pel Si (United for Yes), wins regional elections and forms a government with the support of the anti-capitalist, secessionist CUP party.September 6, 2017: The Catalan parliament agrees to hold an independence referendum in a vote boycotted by the opposition. The Constitutional Court invalidates the ballot on the next day. September 20: Spanish police seize almost 10 million ballot papers and arrest 14 pro-independence politicians and officials, in an attempt to disrupt referendum plans. Street protests ensue.October 1: The referendum takes place despite raids by Spanish riot police on polling stations. Five people are hospitalized and more than 800 people report injuries after clashes with officers. The result is a 90-per-cent vote for independence, with a 43-per-cent turnout, Catalan authorities say. But there is no proper monitoring and voting irregularities are suspected.October 3: A pro-independence general strike paralyses Catalonia and attracts 700,000 people in Barcelona. Five days later, 350,000 people march in the Catalan capital against secession.October 10: Catalan President Carles Puigdemont says his region has the right to declare independence, but will hold off enacting it in order to seek negotiations with Madrid.October 16: Puigdemont dodges a first government ultimatum to retract secessionist plans. October 19: After Puigdemont fails to comply with a second ultimatum, the Spanish government says it wants to activate article 155 of the constitution, under which it can suspend Catalonia‘s home-rule powers.October 27: In a day of high political drama, the Catalan parliament approves a resolution to start the process of independence, but does not set a timeline. Under article 155, the Senate gives extra powers to dissolve the Cataln government to the central government in Madrid, which calls fresh regional elections in Catalonia for December 21. October 28: Madrid sacks the Catalan cabinet, dissolves the parliament and takes over control of the region‘s administration.October 30: The Spanish public prosecutor files charges against Puigdemont and other members of his dissolved government. Puigdemont flees to Belgium.November 2: Spain arrests former members of the Catalan government and issues a European arrest warrant for Puigdemont and four of his former ministers who are in Belgium with him. They remain free as the warrant process works its way through the Belgian legal system.December 4: Six of the former ministers arrested at the start of November are released on bail.December 5: In a surprise move, the Spanish judicial authorities withdraw the European arrest warrants for Puigdemont and the four other ministers in Belgium. The Spanish arrest warrants remain in force.December 21: Catalans vote in fresh regional elections.