madrid/barcelona catalonia leader carles puigdemont thursday say would hold new regional election break deadlock madrid separatists want split spain sharpen political crisis could turn direct confrontation puigdemont expect announce election head move madrid take direct control autonomous region next days speak courtyard regional government headquarter barcelona puigdemont say central government provide sufficient guarantee hold election would prevent imposition direct rule ready call election guarantee give guarantee justify call election today puigdemont say say catalan parliament move forward mandate break spain follow independence referendum take place oct. vote madrid declare illegal try stop independence supporters push unilaterally declare independence late thursday regional government business head resign opposition unilateral declaration sign grow division separatist movement puigdemont stand set stage spanish senate friday approve take-over catalonia institutions police give government madrid power remove catalan president could spark confrontation streets independence supporters promise mount campaign civil disobedience spanish deputy prime minister soraya saenz de santamaria speak senate committee say independence leaders show true face promise dream perform trick aim article 155 constitutional trigger direct rule permit election take place normal neutral situation say spanish government say would call vote within six months take catalonia political crisis grave since spain return democracy four decades ago divide catalonia cause deep resentment part country also prompt flight business wealthy region worry european leaders see fan separatist sentiment elsewhere continent clear whether prime minister mariano rajoy would immediately enforce direct rule simply seek senate authorization without make effective grind exactly central government would enforce practical term catalan civil service regional police would react also uncertain national police use heavy-handed tactics try prevent oct. referendum take place draw accusations resort repressive behavior 1939-1975 franco dictatorship however fast-moving battle will see side stake hard position try keep guess impossible sudden breakthrough could make next 24 hours spain 's ibex .ibex close 1.9 percent hop breakthrough fuel optimism among investors catalonia contribute fifth spain 's economy fourth-largest euro zone spanish blue-chips post substantial gain notably banco sabadell sabe.mc banco santander san.mc 3.2 percent crack pro-independence camp accord spanish media puigdemont ready call election government drop article 155 release two senior secessionist leaders jail remove national police catalonia even senate vote direct rule friday puigdemont would strip power saturday law publish spain official state gazette ander gil garcia spokesman socialist group senate say last hours penultimate day avoid nobody want appeal puigdemont call regional election avoid disaster catalonia spain would take long time recover regional election could either strengthen puigdemont mandate pro-independence party allow graceful exit crack though begin appear increasingly-frustrated catalan independence movement catalan government business head santi vila oppose unilateral declaration independence say thursday resign say attempt dialogue fail early thursday think puigdemont would announce election denounce angry independence supporters traitor several hundred gather outside regional government headquarter protest pro-secession lawmakers mayors announce would step catalonia pro-independence party erc would leave regional government puigdemont call snap election party source say far-left party cup support puigdemont minority government say would oppose vote albert ribas 37-year-old hotel director listen radio barcelona sant jaume square say hard day lose dignity suppose show outside world still make effort talk spanish government see hit wall catalonia 's leader rule snap election crisis deepen