Catalonia’s future was in Catalan hands and the region would “strengthen its principles” to develop into a country, Mr Puigdemont said.
Speaking after the Catalonia parliament’s historic vote, Mr Puigdemont said the next step was to build a new society.
In footage captured by Sky News, he said: “We are facing times when we will need to keep calm and peaceful, always keep the dignity and as we’ve always done
“It is the institutions and also the people who have to work together to build a country, a society.
“A country cannot be built separating these two elements. MPs, councils, everyone of you today, you all represent this link between institutions and the people, so we can construct a country all together.
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“This is what we need to do. This is in our hands, in your hands.
“To strengthen all the fundamental principles that make Catalonia a very old nation in Europe, with its own culture and language.”
The vote passed with 70 votes in favour, ten against and 2 blank.
Unionist MPs did not participate to the secret vote.
Catalonia’s vice-president Oriol Junqueras reacted to the vote saying the Catalan Government returned the “freedom to build a new country” to the people.
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy urged citizens to remain calm, writing on Twitter: “I ask all Spanish people to remain calm. The Rule of Law will reinstate legality in Catalonia. MR”
Madrid voted in favour of triggering Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution to take control of Catalonia after PM Rajoy accused Catalonian separatists of “mocking democracy”.
Taking the unprecedented step of imposing direct rule from Madrid, Mr Rajoy said the “situation is exceptional”.
The Prime Minister said: “Article 155 is not against Catalonia but to prevent the abuse of Catalonia.”
Speaking of the separatist leaders, he said: “They have made anti-democratic decisions that violate the law and normal behavior in any democratic country, and contrary to Spanish and European values in that they are crushing minorities and violating the rule of law.
The motion suspends not only the Catalan Government itself but also other public services such as the autonomous police, the Mossos de Esquadra.
He accused the Catalonian regional government of lying, saying: “Contrary to what they told the citizens of Catalonia, this does affect the economy.”
The motion suspends not only the Catalan Government itself but also other public services such as the autonomous police, the Mossos de Esquadra.
Rajoy is then expected to hold a meeting of his cabinet to adopt the first measures to govern Catalonia directly. This could include sacking the government and assuming direct supervision of Catalonia’s police forces.
What could happen simultaneously in the regional parliament of Catalonia is unclear.
When he ruled out a snap regional election on Thursday, Catalonia’s president Carles Puigdemont said it was now up to the Catalan parliament to move forward with a mandate to break from Spain following an independence referendum on October 1.