The Prime Minister also said he planned to keep extra police deployed to Catalonia before the referendum until the crisis was over. And he added that he would not call early national elections because of the growing political crisis.
Catalan President Carles Puigdemont is expected to address the regional parliament on Tuesday after Spain’s Constitutional Court earlier suspended the Catalan parliament session that had been planned for Monday.
There is speculation that the parliament will declare independence unilaterally at its next sitting. Meanwhile, the former leader of Catalonia, Artur Mas, told the Financial Times newspaper that the region was not yet ready for real independence – even though he believed it had won the right to break away.
On Saturday, thousands of people calling for Spanish unity attended rallies in the capital Madrid. Other demonstrations — including in the Catalan city Barcelona — have also been held urging political dialogue.
Protesters dressed in white gathered with signs saying “Spain is better than its leaders” and “Let’s talk”.
Meanwhile, businesses have continued to announce their departure from the Catalan region amid the ongoing political uncertainty.
