The Spanish Senate commission on the application of article 155 of the Spanish Constitution has resulted in an agreement between PP (Popular Party) and PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers' Party), for a gradual application of the planned measures for intervening in the autonomy of Catalonia, but one which could leave the public media untouched. However, the two largest parties in Spain will continue negotiations until 9:30am on Friday about how to avoid it moving into effect. Prime minister Mariano Rajoy was not happy with the calling of Catalan elections by president Carles Puigdemont, as PSOE had asked for, wanting an express rejection of independence, as reported by El Nacional (in Catalan).
For the first change, Spanish government sources say that the gradual introduction of the measures was already considered in the agreement of the Spanish Cabinet on 21st October, which initially plans for the removal from office of the whole Catalan government and the possibility of revising the other actions based on the needs of the moment. That could even include the removal of other members of the administration, if they refuse to carry out orders from the new, provisional government. There has also been speculation about the firing of the head of the Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan police), Josep Lluís Trapero.
Secondly, PSOE rejected the idea of intervention in the public media, asking PP to leave CCMA (Catalan Audiovisual Media Corporation), TV3, Catalunya Ràdio and ACN (Catalan News Agency) out of the planned measures.
Finally, the negotiation ended in no change as to the potential path for Catalan president Puigdemont to avoid the article being enacted. Rajoy maintains that calling elections is not enough, so PSOE's suggested amendment to the government's proposal was not accepted and will be voted on in the Senate tomorrow. PP will work through the night to ensure that, if the measure is approved, Puigdemont still has to renounce the independence movement and reestablish constitutional order as before 6th September.