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Article snippet: BARCELONA, Spain — The Spanish government said it was preparing emergency measures to halt Catalan secessionism in its tracks after the region’s leader warned on Thursday that separatist lawmakers could vote in favor of a declaration of independence, significantly escalating the territorial battle between the national and regional governments. The announcement from the central government came almost immediately after Carles Puigdemont, the Catalan leader, warned national leaders in a letter that the separatists were prepared to press ahead with independence if the national government used emergency powers in the region. Facing a second deadline on Thursday to state Catalonia’s intentions in the territorial conflict with Spain, Mr. Puigdemont sent a defiant letter to Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy that blamed him for escalating the conflict by refusing to meet and negotiate, “despite all our efforts and our will to dialogue.” That, in turn, prompted the Spanish government to say it would convene an emergency cabinet meeting on Saturday “to defend the general interest of Spaniards, among them the citizens of Catalonia, and take the measures to reestablish the constitutional order in Catalonia.” The Catalan leader had concluded his letter with a clear threat of a breakup. “If the government continues to prevent dialogue and maintains the repression,’’ he wrote, “the Parliament of Catalonia could go ahead, if it deems it opportune, and vote the formal declaration of in... Link to the full article to read more