
Nearly half a million protesters poured onto the streets of Barcelona today as Spain's Prime Minister outlined plans to impose direct rule over Catalonia and remove its leaders.

Mariano Rajoy wants to sack the region's government and call an election within six months in a bid to thwart a break away by the autonomous region.

But his strong stance, which includes a threat to arrest the region's president if he declares independence, led to Catalan President Carles Puigdemont accusing the Spanish leader of the worst attack on the region 'since Franco'.

Mentioning Spain's notorious fascist dictator, Mr Puigdemont branded the Spanish government's plans an 'attack on democracy' and accused Mr Rajoy of seeking to 'humiliate' Catalonia.

Catalans cannot accept the 'illegal' measures taken by the Spanish government, calling them 'the worst attack against the institutions and the people of Catalonia since the military dictatorship of Francisco Franco.'

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Plans by Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to sack the Catalan government and call an election within six months in a bid to thwart a drive by the autonomous region to break away led to angry protests on the streets of Barcelona tonight

Catalan President Carles Puigdemont (third from left) takes part in a march with deputy president Oriol Junqueras (second left) and former Catalan President Artur Mas during a protest in Barcelona this afternoon

Mr Rajoy's aggressive stance, which includes a threat to arrest the region's president if he declares independence, led to him being accused of a 'coup d'etat'. These demonstrators gathered in the city centre to speak out against the plans today

Thousands of pro-independence campaigners carried banners saying Llibertat - freedom - during the lively protests which began earlier today and carried on into this evening

Even moderate Catalans were aghast at the scope of the Spanish government's plans, and the announcement was met with banging pots and honking cars in the streets of Barcelona

Rajoy's conservative government is likely to obtain the national Senate's backing next week for extraordinary powers that will allow him to dissolve the Catalan parliament and call an early election. Pictured: Protesters in Barcelona today

Rajoy said his government had taken the unprecedented decision to restore the law, ensure regional institutions were neutral and guarantee public services. But many Catalans, like the ones pictured, are angry at the plans

The measures must now be approved by Spain's upper house, the Senate, where a vote is scheduled for October 27. Protesters in Barcelona hope to put pressure on the Spanish government to change its mind

Protesters are angry at Rajoy's plans for officials from the central Spanish government to replace all senior members of the Catalan government, including those in control over the regional police, financial system and the public media

Protesters wave Catalan independence flags after listening to a 9pm statement by Catalan regional president Carles Puigdemont

Mr Puigdemont wants the regional parliament to debate and vote on how to respond to what he called the Spanish government's 'attempt to wipe out' Catalonia's autonomy

Mr Puigdemont called Mr Rajoy's move the 'the worst attack' on Catalan people and institutions since General Francisco Franco abolished Catalonia's regional government in 1939

In a televised address earlier today, Mr Puigdemont called plans by Mr Rajoy to replace him and his cabinet an 'attempt to humiliate' Catalonia and an 'attack on democracy'. Pictured: Protesters watching the address

The Catalan president's comments were a veiled threat to push ahead with an independence declaration for the prosperous region in north-eastern Spain

He said in a televised speech: 'I ask the parliament to meet in a plenary session during which we, the representatives of the citizens' sovereignty, will be able to decide over this attempt to liquidate our government and our democracy and act in consequence.'

How memories of Franco's Civil War persecution still haunt Catalonia Catalonia was an independent region on the Iberian Peninsula with its own laws and customs until the reign of King Philip V, who defeated the Catalans in battle and created modern-day Spain. Subsequent Spanish kings tried to impose Spanish laws and language on the region, but abandoned their attempts in 1931 and restored the Catalan government. The region lost autonomy in the wake of the Civil War after fascist dictator Francisco Franco won the Battle of Ebro in 1938. He seized control of the Catalan government, abolished the language and killed 3,500 people after nearly half a million died in the brutal Civil War. The region regained some autonomy after Franco died in 1975, but for many this was not enough. Advertisement

Mr Rajoy said his government had taken the unprecedented decision to restore the law, ensure regional institutions were neutral and guarantee public services.

The measures must now be approved by Spain's upper house, the Senate, where a vote is scheduled for October 27.

Mr Rajoy's conservative Popular Party holds a majority in the Senate, and the measures also enjoy the support of the main opposition Socialists and centrist Ciudadanos party.

If the Senate passes the proposals, the Catalan parliament will continue to operate as normal until it is dissolved.

However, it will be unable to elect a new president to replace Mr Puigdemont or vote on any laws that go against Spain's constitution and its statute as a semi-autonomous region.

Catalonia leader Carles Puigdemont joined the protest in Barcelona this afternoon before delivering a speech in response to the decision to take over the regional cabinet's functions at 9pm tonight.

Independence campaigners are also angry about the imprisonment of activists Jordi Sánchez and Jordi Cuixart, who were both leading figures in the October 1 referendum.

The speaker of the Catalan parliament said the Spanish government had made an effective 'coup d'etat' in what she called an 'authoritarian' attempt to take control of the northeastern region.

Carme Forcadell says in Barcelona that Mr Rajoy has announced a de facto coup d'etat with the goal of ousting a democratically elected government.'

Mr Forcadell said the move is 'an authoritarian blow within a member of the European Union.'

Catalonia's vice president Oriol Junqueras promised to meet supporters at the protest to take a stand 'against totalitarianism.'

Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy this afternoon said he would curb the powers of the parliament of Catalonia, sack its government and call an election within six months

Left-wing Catalan Nationalists demand autonomy for the region with a demonstration in Las Ramblas, Barcelona, on February 20 1936

Francisco Franco, who ruled Spain for nearly 40 years, pictured left in an outdated photo. On the right is a member of the Catalan Communist youth in 1936

Catalan President Carles Puigdemont arrives at a demonstration organised by Catalan pro-independence movements

Protesters hold pro-independence Catalan Esteladas flags as they gather for a demonstration on earlier today in Barcelona

The Spanish government moved decisively Saturday to use a previously untapped constitutional power so it can take control of Catalonia and derail the independence movement

Thousands of protesters took to the streets this afternoon to demonstrate against the decision to suspend Catalan's autonomy

Thousands of protesters took to the streets this afternoon to demonstrate against the decision to suspend Catalan's autonomy

At the national level, Pablo Echenique, a secretary in the far-left Podemos party, vowed to work to oust Mr Rajoy and his conservative Popular Party

Protesters wave Catalan independence flags as they demonstrate against the Spanish federal government's move to suspend Catalonian autonomy

A protester holds sign reading 'Freedom for the two Jordis' during a march to protest against the National Court's decision to imprison civil society leaders, Jordi Sánchez and Jordi Cuixart

A protester holds up an anti-European Union placard during a demonstration

Catalan President Carles Puigdemont (centre) takes part at a march with deputy president Oriol Junqueras

Mr Rajoy is also requesting that Puigdemont's government be stripped of its power.

During this 'exceptional situation', ministers from the central Spanish government would carry out the roles previously occupied by Catalans.

The Prime Minister confirmed Spain was initiating Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution in order to take control of Catalonia.

He blamed separatists for pushing the government to take the unprecedented measures in Catalonia, which have caused anger even among moderates.

Meanwhile, Spanish authorities are preparing to arrest Catalonia's president and charge him with rebellion if he declares independence.

The State Attorney General José Manuel Maza confirmed 'a complaint is being prepared for rebellion' against the President of the Generalitat of Catalonia, Carles Puigdemont, and other independence leaders.

The charge of rebellion could see Puigdemont face up to 30 years in prison if found guilty, according to El Pais.

During the earlier press conference, Rajoy said: 'It wasn't our wish, nor our intention. It never was and I think the Spanish public opinion as a whole knows this.

'Article 155 is a constitutional article, but it's only invoked in exceptional circumstances.

The State Attorney General José Manuel Maza confirmed on Saturday that 'a complaint is being prepared for rebellion' against the President of the Generalitat of Catalonia, Carles Puigdemont, and other independence leaders

Protesters gather in the city center to demonstrate against the Spanish federal government's move to suspend Catalonian autonomy

The Spanish government announced measures today it will implement in triggering Article 155

In the streets of Barcelona, banging pots and pans and honking cars greeted Mr Rajoy's announcement

A protester holds sign reading 'Freedom. We want you home' during the march today

Protesters carrying signs to demand the release of imprisoned Catalan leaders Jordi Sanchez and Jordi Cuixart walk past a Zara clothing

A protester carrying an ''estelada'' or Catalonia independence flag shouts during a march to protest against the National Court's decision to imprison civil society leaders

Rajoy also proposed having central government ministers assume the powers of Catalan regional officials

Mariano Rajoy also blamed separatists for pushing government to take unprecedented measures in Catalonia

'We are triggering Article 155 because no government of any democratic country, I insist none, can accept that the law is ignored, that the law is violated, that the law is changed and all of this trying to impose their criteria on the rest.'

He added: 'This is the reason why we have invoked a constitutional article, similar to others in many European Constitutions, that was voted for by all the Spanish people.'

In the streets of Barcelona, banging pots and pans and honking cars greeted Mr Rajoy's announcement.

The tense relations between Barcelona and Madrid led one EU official to controversially claim that a 'civil war' was 'imaginable'.

'There is a civil war imaginable now in the middle of Europe,' he said earlier this month. 'One can only hope that a thread of conversation will soon be recorded between Madrid and Barcelona.'

At the national level, Pablo Echenique, a secretary in the far-left Podemos party, vowed to work to oust Mr Rajoy and his conservative Popular Party.

Pro-business Ciudadanos (Citizens) party president Albert Rivera says he supports measures to heal divisions created by the independence movement and to provide the security companies need to remain in Catalonia.

Barcelona politician Alfred Bosch tweeted: 'The end of Spanich Democracy. Madrid govt. activates coup against Catalonia'

Spanish activist Àlex Hinojo said: 'A coup d'Etat: Rajoy is canceling Democracy right now in Catalonia. Fascism is alive and kicking. Shame on you Mariono Rajoy'

Wikileaks' Julian Assange said: 'Spain's PM has responded to Catalonia's calls for dialog with a plan (announced today, minimizing press coverage) to remove its president and cabinet and to take over its institutions by force, effectively granting control of Catalonia to a party with just 8% of the vote'

Catalonia's vice president Oriol Junqueras promised to meet supporters at a protest scheduled for Saturday afternoon in Barcelona to take a stand 'against totalitarianism'

Marta Rovira, the general secretary of the Junqueras' separatist ERC party, said Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's actions are a 'coup d'etat' designed to crush Catalonia's self-rule and aspirations of breaking away from Spain.

Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau has opposed a declaration of independence in Catalonia based on an the referendum that Spain's Constitutional Court had suspended.

Colau nonetheless criticized the central government on Saturday and called its moves 'a serious attack' on Catalonia's regional autonomy.

Earlier, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's Cabinet met to outline the scope and timing of the measures the government plans to take under Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution.

The article allows central authorities to intervene when one of Spain's 17 autonomous regions fails to comply with the law.

It's never been used since the 1978 Constitution was adopted, but Rajoy's conservative government says establishing direct control over Catalonia was a move of last resort.

The Spanish government moved to activate a previously untapped constitutional article Saturday so it can take control of Catalonia. Pictured, Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy heads a special cabinet meeting at the Moncloa Palace in Madrid today

The charge of rebellion could see Puigdemont face up to 30 years in prison if found guilty

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's Cabinet was meeting to outline the scope and timing of the measures the government plans to take under Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution. Pictured right, State Attorney General José Manuel Maza

The goal is 'the return to legality and the recovery of institutional normalcy,' the prime minister said Friday.

Rajoy could force the removal of Catalan officials and call early regional elections for as soon as January. Such actions are expected to spark angry opposition from supporters of independence and moderate Catalans who will see them as an attack on their autonomy.

The slow-burning constitutional crisis over secession escalated this month when regional government officials claimed a disputed independence referendum held Oct. 1 gave them a legal basis for separating from Spain.

The country's Constitutional Court has so far ruled against all moves toward secession, including the controversial referendum.

The vote itself was marred by sporadic violence as police took action to shut down some polling locations. The central government says the results have no legitimacy.

Opposition parties have agreed to support the prime minister in revoking Catalonia's autonomy as a way to thwart the independence drive.

Although the ruling Popular Party has enough majority to get the specific measures passed by the country's Senate, Rajoy has rallied the support of the opposition to give his government's actions more weight.

Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont has threatened to call a vote in the regional parliament for an explicit declaration of independence from Spain.

Spanish authorities are preparing to arrest Catalonia's president Carles Puigdemont and charge him with rebellion if he declares independence

People hold candles and a Catalan pro-independence 'Estelada' flag during a demonstration in Barcelona against the arrest of two Catalan separatist leaders on Tuesday

Rajoy could force the removal of Catalan officials and call early regional elections for as soon as January. Pictured, protesters clashing with police earlier this month