barcelona/madrid general strike call pro-independence campaigners catalonia close shop sever transport link wednesday region depose leader lose political momentum fail seal electoral pact another party protesters close roads cause huge tailbacks barcelona public transport run minimum service small store remain shutter reuters saw hundreds strikers gather barcelona main sant jaume square protest imprisonment politicians chant name ex-leader carles puigdemont refer president face uphill task maintain influence miss deadline midnight tuesday agree pro-secessionist pact regional election former vice president oriol junqueras central government madrid call election dec. 21 last month assume control catalonia follow parliament unilateral independence declaration spain constitutional court wednesday officially annul declaration suspend widely expect rule catalonia secessionist push plunge spain bad political crisis four decades lead business exodus reopen old wound civil war 1930s junqueras custody charge sedition rebellion misuse public fund poll show leftist erc party win three time many seat next month regional assembly centre-right pdecat puigdemont self-imposed exile belgium face charge forecast prove correct represent uncomfortable position puigdemont say jose miguel de elias political consultancy sigma do secessionists get enough seat form government would vice president ... would suit catalonia mix reaction pro-independence strike call two civic group whose head imprison last month sedition charge labor union people stand across dozens major highways wave placard chant freedom political prisoners tv video image show minor scuffle report social media police attempt move protesters many small store leave shutter due strike large shop businesses appear open normal strike nobody go raise salary ... politicians work stop silliness jose luis barcelona construction worker tell reuters tv way work protester josep cardona 55-year-old office worker join previous strike time put people prison go far say strike supporter nuria catalana 64-year-old nurse say favor pro-secessionist electoral pact understand difficulties involve see really pay attention whoever win election continue struggle say puigdemont ambition garner support independence campaign heartland european union hope fall flat interview publish wednesday renew criticism bloc executive eu commission president jean-claude juncker welcome mayors governors ... want meet puigdemont tell belgian daily de standaard always convince european ... people run eu wreck europe prime minister mariano rajoy unwavering opposition form independence catalonia say hop next month election would usher period calm business usual region hop massive participation ... return normality say madrid parliament build wednesday opinion poll release sunday barcelona-based newspaper la vanguardia show junqueras erc could garner 45 46 seat regional assembly puigdemont pdecat 14 15. would leave need form parliamentary alliance anti-capitalist cup reach 68-seat threshold majority erc pdecat could still reach agreement vote stand together could hold seat poll projections 2015 election result show catalan strike sever road link secessionist leader regroup