Former Catalan leader welcome to take part in new election

Former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont would be welcome to participate in the new elections, Spanish government has said.

This comes after Catalonian parliament declared independence last Friday, a move which Madrid declared illegal.

Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has invoked emergency measures, dissolving the Catalonian parliament and removing Mr Puigdemont as Catalan leader. New elections are set to take place on 21 December.

Despite saying it will press charges against him, the Spanish government said it would welcome his participation in the new elections. Puigdemont could be facing 30 years in jail over rebellion charges.

Puigdemont is urging “democratic opposition” to direct rule from Madrid.

"It's very clear that the best form of defending the gains made up until now is democratic opposition to Article 155," he said.

However, anti-independence protesters who want Catalonia to remain part of Spain will unite in Barcelona later on today as the country remains in a constitutional crisis.

The rally will start around midday and is going under the slogan "Catalonia is all of us!"