CATALAN CRISIS: Spanish PM urges supporters to turn out in force to ‘restore normality’

Madrid imposed direct rule on the north-eastern region two weeks ago in response to the Catalan government’s unilateral declaration of independence.

And rallying his supporters in Barcelona today, the Spanish premier said new leadership in the area would help end “separatist havoc”.

The wealthy region was plunged in to chaos after a controversial independence referendum on October 1.

But Mr Rajoy said the election of pro-unity politicians to the Catalan government on December 21 would restore stability after weeks of protests and several large multinationals moving their offices out of the troubled region.

He told Catalan members of his conservative People’s Party: “We want a massive turnout to begin a new political era of tranquillity, normality, coexistence and respect.

“We must urgently bring back normality to Catalonia… to reduce social tension and stop damage to the economy.”

He defended his decision to invoke a never-before-used constitutional clause which granted Madrid the power to temporarily strip the region of its autonomy, arguing he had “exhausted all roads”.

A number of key Catalan leaders have been detained for their part in the decision to declare a split from Spain on October 27.

Around 750,000 people took to the streets in Barcelona this weekend to protest the arrests and demand their release.

Pro-Independence parties initially objected to December 21 election date, arguing it was too soon, but have now agreed to take part.

Ousted leader Carles Puigdemont will stand for his PDeCAT party, and the left-leaning Catalan nationalist ERC group will also participate. 

The far-left, pro-independence CUP party, whose support was key to Puigdemont’s government, will decide tonight wether or not it will stand.

Catalan officials said 92 per cent of those who voted in October’s referendum backed a split from Spain.

However the turnout was just 43 per cent, and many of those against secession reportedly boycotted the ballot.

The referendum had been declared illegal by Mr Rajoy’s government and Spain’s top court.

And the polling day was marred by violence after Spanish national police were deployed to stop people voting and close polling stations.