Catalan premier Carles Puigdemont has delivered a scathing response to Mariano Rajoy’s hardhitting plans for direct rule in the troubled region, calling them the “worst attack on Catalan institutions since the dictator General Franco ordered the end of our autonomy”.

“What we decide through voting is to be wiped out by the government in their offices,” Mr Puigdemont claimed.

He said the Catalan parliament would hold an emergency debate on “this attempt to destroy our autonomous government, our democracy”.

Also speaking in Spanish and English, he described Catalonia as “an ancient democratic nation” and claimed that the EU’s “founding values” were at risk.

Earlier on Saturday, Mr Rajoy had outlined plans that would see the region’s separatist leaders removed from office, including Mr Puigdemont, and the local parliament stripped of much of its power.

In a significant upping of the stakes in his bid to rein in the region’s pro-independence rulers, Mr Rajoy has said that although the Catalan parliament will not be dissolved immediately, its functions will be limited to “avoid measures contrary to the constitution”.

Catalonia: Spanish Prime Minister approves measures to strip region's autonomous powers

Ministries in Madrid will oversee the management of the Catalan administration, as well as directing the Catalan local police forces and, probably, the region’s public television and radio channels.

The Nationalist movement was, predictably, in an uproar at their imminent loss of regional power. An estimated 450,000 people attended a major demonstration in Barcelona, which initially asked for the freedom of two jailed separatists but merged with protests against direct rule.

“There could have been dialogue, instead we’ve got state intervention,” Barcelona mayor Ada Colau, viewed as a non-aligned moderate, said during the demonstration. Carme Forcadell, president of the Catalan parliament, described Mr Rajoy’s measures as “a de facto coup d’etat”.

The Spanish Prime Minister also confirmed that regional elections would be called within a period of six months or “as soon as institutional normality is restored”.

All of these measures are to be carried out under the unprecedented auspices of Article 155 of the constitution, which allows Madrid to impose direct rule, and are pending a vote from the Spanish Senate, where Mr Rajoy’s ruling Partido Popular (PP) party has a majority.

Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Show all 17 1 /17 Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters A man faces off Spanish Civil Guards outside a polling station in Sant Julia de Ramis Reuters Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Riot police form a security cordon around the Ramon Llull school in Barcelona EPA Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Riot police evict a young woman during clashes between people gathered outside the Ramon Llull school in Barcelona EPA Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Spanish Civil Guard officers break through a door at a polling station in Sant Julia de Ramis Reuters Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Spanish National Police clash with pro-referendum supporters in Barcelona on Sunday AP Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Crowds raise their arms up as police move in on members of the public gathered outside to prevent them from voting in the referendum at a polling station where the President Carles Puigdemunt will vote later today Getty Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters People confront Spanish Civil Guard officers outside a polling station Reuters Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Three man hold each other as they try to block a Spanish police van from approaching a polling station AP Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters A woman shows a ballot to a Spanish Civil Guard officer outside a polling station Reuters Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters A man wearing a shirt with an Estelada (Catalan separatist flag) and holding carnations faces off with a Spanish Civil Guard officer Reuters Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Police try to control the area as people attempt to cast their ballot at a polling station in Barcelona Getty Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters A man is grabbed by officers as police move in on the crowds Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Two women argue with a Spanish National policeman during clashes between Catalan pro-independence people and police forces at the Sant Julia de Ramis sports centre in Girona EPA Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Sant Julia De Ramis in Spain Getty Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Confrontation outside a polling station in Barcelona, where police have tried to stop people voting AFP/Getty Images Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters A Spanish National Police officer aims a rubber-bullet rifle at pro-referendum supporters in Barcelona AP Catalonia independence referendum: Riot police clash with voters Riot police clashed with voters as polls opened in Barcelona Sky News

Mr Rajoy was notably scant on specific detail and long on justification for direct rule in his speech, concentrating principally on a broad-brushed display of the whys and wherefores of stripping the Catalan government of its power.

“We are not ending Catalan autonomy, but we are relieving those who have acted outside the law of their duties,” Mr Rajoy said.

He explained the aim of the measures was to restore “legality, normality and social goodwill” to Catalonia.

Mr Rajoy underlined he had the support of both the Socialist Party, which heads Spain’s opposition, and by the fourth largest party, Ciudadanos. But the left-wing Podemos coalition called the measures “authoritarian and a botched job”, and one middle-ranking member of the Socialist Party executive, Nuria Parlon, has resigned over the implementation of Article 155.