direct rule

direct rule (uncountable)

1. (particularly in Northern Ireland) Control by the central government of an area that has had its own governing body in the past.
   • 2017 October 22, Sam Jones, “Catalonia weighs up declaration of independence”, in the Guardian‎:

     The Catalan parliament will meet over the coming days to agree its response to the Spanish government’s unprecedented decision to impose direct rule as speculation mounts that the regional president, Carles Puigdemont, is planning to press ahead with a unilateral declaration of independence.