Crisis over Catalan independence nears crucial few daysBARCELONA/MADRID (Reuters) - Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont kept friends and foes guessing on Wednesday on whether he intends to unilaterally declare independence as the Spanish government prepares to impose direct rule to stop the region breaking away. Puigdemont spurned an invitation to explain his position to the Senate in Madrid on Thursday   an indication of the rigid stands taken by both sides in Spain s gravest political crisis since the end of the Franco dictatorship in 1975. He also kept his silence on whether to call for a new regional election, a move which might prompt the Madrid government to postpone its plan to take over Catalonia s institutions and police. The next few days could prove crucial in the  battle of wills that has followed an independence referendum on Oct. 1, which Madrid declared illegal and the Catalan government said endorsed its claim to statehood. While it is not clear how the central government will take over in practical terms, nor how Catalan civil servants and police will react, some independence supporters have threatened a campaign of civil disobedience, raising the possibility of ugly confrontations. The Catalan secessionist drive is the most serious existential challenge to a Western European country since the Scottish independence referendum in 2014, when voters in the end decided to stay part of the United Kingdom.  It has caused deep resentment elsewhere in Spain, caused a flight of business from the wealthy region, and worried other European leaders who see it as fanning separatist sentiment elsewhere on the continent. Madrid has rejected Puigdemont s calls for dialogue to resolve the situation, saying he first must withdraw an ambiguous declaration of independence made earlier this month. But it did invite to him address the Senate on Thursday.  However, late on Wednesday the Catalan leader turned down the offer, a spokesman for the regional government said, on the grounds that Madrid had already announced its plans to impose direct control on the autonomous region. The Senate is expected to give the green light for that on Friday morning. It was still unclear if Puigdemont would make a unilateral declaration of independence, which, given the opposition from the Madrid government as well as European leaders, would be merely symbolic. Also up in the air was whether he would call a snap regional election, something a senior Catalan politician said on Tuesday was being considered. He could still do this on Friday before the Senate strips him of his powers and imposes direct rule. Some Spanish political and business leaders, along with most Catalan newspapers, have backed the idea as a snap election could forestall direct rule and help break the deadlock. Calling an election could also either strengthen Puigdemont s mandate if pro-independence parties won, or allow him a graceful exit if they did not. An opinion poll published by the El Periodico newspaper on Sunday showed a snap election would probably have results similar to the last ballot, in 2015, when a coalition of pro-independence parties formed a minority government. The actual steps to enforce direct rule could be taken gradually in order not to inflame the situation. Catalonia said on Monday it was confident its officials, including the police, would defy attempts by Madrid to take over institutions. Analyst Antonio Barroso of Teneo Intelligence said Puigdemont was caught between radicals and moderates in the Catalan establishment. Radical elements want him to make the Catalan parliament declare independence unilaterally on Thursday or Friday. This would provoke a tough government reaction, playing into their hands, he said. More moderate voices have said that if he calls an early election, he could stop the imposition of direct rule.  Both sides are engaged in a game to tag each other with the blame for what happens next,  Barroso said. worldnews
crisis catalan independence nears crucial reuters catalan leader charles puigdemont kept friends foes guessing wednesday whether intends unilaterally declare independence spanish government prepares impose direct rule stop region breaking away puigdemont spurred invitation explain position senate madrid thursday indication rigid stands taken sides spain graves political crisis since end franco dictatorship he also kept silence whether call new regional election move might prompt madrid government postpone plan take catalunya institutions police the next days could prove crucial battle wills followed independence referendum madrid declared illegal catalan government said endorsed claim statehood while clear central government take practical terms catalan civil servants police react independence supporters threatened campaign civil disobedience raising possibility ugly confrontations the catalan secessionist drive serious existential challenge western european country since scottish independence referendum voters end decided stay part united kingdom it caused deep resentment elsewhere spain caused flight business wealthy region worried european leaders see banning separatist sentiment elsewhere continent madrid rejected puigdemont calls dialogue resolve situation saying first must withdraw ambiguous declaration independence made earlier month but invite address senate thursday however late wednesday catalan leader turned offer spokesman regional government said grounds madrid already announced plans impose direct control autonomous region the senate expected give green light friday morning it still unclear puigdemont would make unilateral declaration independence given opposition madrid government well european leaders would merely symbolic also air whether would call snap regional election something senior catalan politician said tuesday considered he could still friday senate strips powers imposes direct rule some spanish political business leaders along catalan newspapers backed idea snap election could forestall direct rule help break deadlock calling election could also either strengthen puigdemont mandate parties allow graceful exit an opinion poll published el periodic newspaper sunday showed snap election would probably results similar last ballot coalition parties formed minority government the actual steps enforce direct rule could taken gradually order inflamed situation catalunya said monday confident officials including police would defy attempts madrid take institutions analyst antonio barrio tenet intelligence said puigdemont caught radicals moderates catalan establishment radical elements want make catalan parliament declare independence unilaterally thursday friday this would provoke tough government reaction playing hands said more moderate voices said calls early election could stop imposition direct rule both sides engaged game tag blame happens next barrio said worldnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: Crisis over Catalan independence nears crucial few daysBARCELONA/MADRID (Reuters) - Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont kept friends and foes guessing on Wednesday on whether he intends to unilaterally declare independence as the Spanish government prepares to impose direct rule to stop the region breaking away. Puigdemont spurned an invitation to explain his position to the Senate in Madrid on Thursday   an indication of the rigid stands taken by both sides in Spain s gravest political crisis since the end of the Franco dictatorship in 1975. He also kept his silence on whether to call for a new regional election, a move which might prompt the Madrid government to postpone its plan to take over Catalonia s institutions and police. The next few days could prove crucial in the  battle of wills that has followed an independence referendum on Oct. 1, which Madrid declared illegal and the Catalan government said endorsed its claim to statehood. While it is not clear how the central government will take over in practical terms, nor how Catalan civil servants and police will react, some independence supporters have threatened a campaign of civil disobedience, raising the possibility of ugly confrontations. The Catalan secessionist drive is the most serious existential challenge to a Western European country since the Scottish independence referendum in 2014, when voters in the end decided to stay part of the United Kingdom.  It has caused deep resentment elsewhere in Spain, caused a flight of business from the wealthy region, and worried other European leaders who see it as fanning separatist sentiment elsewhere on the continent. Madrid has rejected Puigdemont s calls for dialogue to resolve the situation, saying he first must withdraw an ambiguous declaration of independence made earlier this month. But it did invite to him address the Senate on Thursday.  However, late on Wednesday the Catalan leader turned down the offer, a spokesman for the regional government said, on the grounds that Madrid had already announced its plans to impose direct control on the autonomous region. The Senate is expected to give the green light for that on Friday morning. It was still unclear if Puigdemont would make a unilateral declaration of independence, which, given the opposition from the Madrid government as well as European leaders, would be merely symbolic. Also up in the air was whether he would call a snap regional election, something a senior Catalan politician said on Tuesday was being considered. He could still do this on Friday before the Senate strips him of his powers and imposes direct rule. Some Spanish political and business leaders, along with most Catalan newspapers, have backed the idea as a snap election could forestall direct rule and help break the deadlock. Calling an election could also either strengthen Puigdemont s mandate if pro-independence parties won, or allow him a graceful exit if they did not. An opinion poll published by the El Periodico newspaper on Sunday showed a snap election would probably have results similar to the last ballot, in 2015, when a coalition of pro-independence parties formed a minority government. The actual steps to enforce direct rule could be taken gradually in order not to inflame the situation. Catalonia said on Monday it was confident its officials, including the police, would defy attempts by Madrid to take over institutions. Analyst Antonio Barroso of Teneo Intelligence said Puigdemont was caught between radicals and moderates in the Catalan establishment. Radical elements want him to make the Catalan parliament declare independence unilaterally on Thursday or Friday. This would provoke a tough government reaction, playing into their hands, he said. More moderate voices have said that if he calls an early election, he could stop the imposition of direct rule.  Both sides are engaged in a game to tag each other with the blame for what happens next,  Barroso said. worldnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: crisis catalan independence nears crucial reuters catalan leader charles puigdemont kept friends foes guessing wednesday whether intends unilaterally declare independence spanish government prepares impose direct rule stop region breaking away puigdemont spurred invitation explain position senate madrid thursday indication rigid stands taken sides spain graves political crisis since end franco dictatorship he also kept silence whether call new regional election move might prompt madrid government postpone plan take catalunya institutions police the next days could prove crucial battle wills followed independence referendum madrid declared illegal catalan government said endorsed claim statehood while clear central government take practical terms catalan civil servants police react independence supporters threatened campaign civil disobedience raising possibility ugly confrontations the catalan secessionist drive serious existential challenge western european country since scottish independence referendum voters end decided stay part united kingdom it caused deep resentment elsewhere spain caused flight business wealthy region worried european leaders see banning separatist sentiment elsewhere continent madrid rejected puigdemont calls dialogue resolve situation saying first must withdraw ambiguous declaration independence made earlier month but invite address senate thursday however late wednesday catalan leader turned offer spokesman regional government said grounds madrid already announced plans impose direct control autonomous region the senate expected give green light friday morning it still unclear puigdemont would make unilateral declaration independence given opposition madrid government well european leaders would merely symbolic also air whether would call snap regional election something senior catalan politician said tuesday considered he could still friday senate strips powers imposes direct rule some spanish political business leaders along catalan newspapers backed idea snap election could forestall direct rule help break deadlock calling election could also either strengthen puigdemont mandate parties allow graceful exit an opinion poll published el periodic newspaper sunday showed snap election would probably results similar last ballot coalition parties formed minority government the actual steps enforce direct rule could taken gradually order inflamed situation catalunya said monday confident officials including police would defy attempts madrid take institutions analyst antonio barrio tenet intelligence said puigdemont caught radicals moderates catalan establishment radical elements want make catalan parliament declare independence unilaterally thursday friday this would provoke tough government reaction playing hands said more moderate voices said calls early election could stop imposition direct rule both sides engaged game tag blame happens next barrio said worldnews