All known so far after the proclamation of independence by Catalonia

Catalonone's new regional elections will be held on December 21st, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said in a televised address.

Besides removing Carles Puigdemont as head of the autonomous region, he also dismissed his chief of police and said the ministers of the central government would take over the Catalan administration.

“Spain is living on a sad day,” said Rajoy. “We believe it is urgent to listen to Catalan citizens, all of them, so they can decide their future and no one can act outside the law in their name”, he added.

In an amazing show against the challenge of official Madrid, the Catalan Parliament had voted on Friday afternoon to make a unilateral declaration of independence.

Despite the emotions and celebrations inside and outside the building, it was a futile gesture, as the Spanish Senate in Madrid immediately approved the establishment of direct rule.

Several European countries, including France and Germany, and the United States of America also rejected the declaration of independence and said they supported Rajoy's efforts to preserve Spain's unity.

The crisis has now reached a new and possibly dangerous level, as independent supporters have called for a campaign of disobedience.

RELIGION E EVROPA

Catalonia held an independence referendum on October 1st, which was declared illegal by Madrid and was damaged by the tactics of the heavy national police to stop it.

Although the referendum approved independence, it attracted only 43 per cent of the turnout, as the Catalans who opposed independence boycotted it largely.

The vacation of independence has caused deep disappointment over Spain. Chaos has also prompted a business departure from Catalonjia, alarming European leaders.

Catalonia is one of Spain's most prosperous regions and already has a high degree of autonomy. But there is a variation of historical complaints, worsened during Franco's dictatorship 1939-1975, when its culture and politics were suppressed.

In Barcelona, Jordi Mercade, a 32-year-old engineer celebrating with friends, said there were mixed feelings about the day's events, reports “Reuters”, Periscopi broadcast.

The “is a day for history, but many of us here also know that we are not independent, they have power, we are proud that we have declared independence, but we know that this is not something defined”, he said.

It is not certain that new elections can solve the crisis, as it could increase the number of independence supporters in parliament.

It is also unclear how Rajoy's other measures will work on the ground, due to the reactions of civil servants and regional police, known as Mossos désquadra, who are reported to be divided in terms of their vitality in Spain.

The main separatist group, the Catalan National Assembly, called on civil servants not to follow orders from the Spanish government and urged them to follow the peaceful “resistance”.

“Tensions can rise significantly over the coming days,” said Antonio Barroso of Spanish Intelligence.

A large crowd of independent supporters gathered outside the regional parliament in Barcelona, calling “Liberty” in Catalan and singing traditional songs.

The motion, adopted after a debate passionately with lawyers and opponents of independence, said Catalonia constituted an independent, sovereign and social democratic state.

Lawmakers from the members of the three national parties -- the People's Party, the Socialists and Ciudadanos -- appeared ahead of the vote, voting for their region's independence from Spain./Periscopi/