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The Spanish government has suspended Catalonia’s autonomy and will introduce direct rule from next Saturday as the country sinks further into its worst constitutional crisis since the restoration of democracy in 1977, The Guardian reported.

After an emergency cabinet meeting, and citing the Catalan government’s “conscious and systematic rebellion and disobedience”, Spain’s prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, said he was invoking article 155 of the constitution to “restore the rule of law, coexistence, the economic recovery and so that elections could be held in normal circumstances”.

Pending senate approval next week, the government of Carles Puigdemont will be stripped of its powers, with its functions assumed by the relevant ministries in Madrid. Early elections in Catalonia would then be held within six months, Rajoy said.

While the government insists that article 155 did not imply suspending Catalan autonomy, many in Catalonia are likely to take a different point of view. Thousands of demonstrators are expected to take to the streets later on Saturday to protest against the imposition of direct rule.

The Catalan leader has repeatedly asked the Spanish government to enter negotiations on how the region could become sovereign. Mr Puigdemont threatened to present a formal declaration of independence to Catalonia’s parliament if Mr Rajoy applied Article 155.