Puigdemont insisted his citizens could not accept measures dictated by the Spanish government.
And he revealed he has asked the Catalan Parliament to meet to debate the steps taken by Spain and Rajoy.
READ MORE: Catalonia chaos erupts with calls for independence NOW as Spain steps in
In a televised speech this evening, Puigdemont said the decision by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to fire the regional government and force a new election, which will be effective next Friday, was “the worst attack against the institutions and the people of Catalonia since the military dictatorship of Francisco Franco.”
He added: “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.”
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The leader of Catalonia was expected to declare the region’s independence earlier today as the stalemate between his regional government and Spanish authorities broke.
Today Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy invoked Article 155 of the Spanish constitution, taking control of the autonomous region this morning.
Mr Puigdemont and his ministers have all been deposed, with Spanish authorities stepping in to govern the province after a controversial independence referendum that saw 90 per cent of voters opt to leave the Mediterranean kingdom.
Mr Rajoy’s government claims the referendum was conducted illegally and has seized power to ensure the rule of law.
After throwing out the current government, Mr Rajoy will trigger new regional elections within six months. Parliament will continue to sit until then.
It was thought Mr Puigdemont would counter Spain’s power grab by declaring independence unilaterally.
Instead today he joined enormous crowds of protesters in a show of defiance as Madrid grabs power from the autonomous province.
Thousands joined the rally in Barcelona this afternoon with cries of “independence” in anger of Madrid’s shocking heavy-handedness following the vote, with the police being accused of brutality in the wake of the referendum.
Today, the speaker of the Catalan parliament said Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s decision to fire Catalonia’s government and force a new election is a “coup” and an “attack against democracy”.
“Prime Minister Rajoy wants the parliament of Catalonia to stop being a democratic parliament, and we will not allow this to happen,” Carme Forcadell said in a televised speech.
“This is why we want to send to the citizens of this country a message of firmness and hope. We commit today, after the most serious attack against the Catalan institutions since they were restored, to the defence of the sovereignty of the parliament of Catalonia.”
Spain’s public prosecutor is also preparing a lawsuit against Mr Puigdemont over the independence vote.
He could be facing a prison sentence of up to 30 years for organising a “rebellion” against the Spanish constitution.
The crime of rebellion is defined as an uprising designed to “repeal, suspend or totally or partially modify the Constitution” or “declare independence of a part of the national territory”
It’s expected he will be arrested if he declares independence however separatist supporters have vowed to protect him by forming a human shield around parliament if they have to.