Mariano Rajoy

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy was voted out of office by an absolute majority of Spain's parliament after a former treasurer of his party was found guilty in a bribery and money-laundering scandal.

Police escorted some members of the Catalan government out of their offices, as the ongoing crisis over Catalonia's independence claim continues to create uncertainty.

The Spanish government, however, said the vote will not happen "because it is illegal." The region held a largely symbolic independence vote in 2014, which passed overwhelmingly, but turnout was low.