No countries have recognized Catalonia's independence.

Mariano Rajoy, Spain’s prime minister now replaces Catalan president Carles Puigdemont as the top decision maker in the region. Special measures published overnight in an official gazette online transferred power to Madrid after the Catalan government was fired and the regional parliament dissolved as part of a series of emergency measures approved by the Senate on Friday.

Mr Rajoy said that Mr Puigdemont was being ousted from office and new elections would be called in the region for December 21. The director of the Catalan regional police Josep Lluis Trapero was also fired and replaced with another person in charge.

Also on Friday, former Catalan leader Puigdemont called on Catalonian people to refrain, avoid unrests, and join efforts to build a free country.

However, thousands of Spanish people gathered at Colon Plaza in Madrid to show support for national unification and the Spanish Charter. At present, no countries have recognized Catalonia's independence.