The Catalan regional parliament has declared independence from Spain even as Madrid readies to take control of the region, AFP reported.

The 70-10 ballot was boycotted only by Opposition MPs, BBC reported.

Catalan separatist parties on Friday filed a resolution in the regional parliament in which they declared independence from Spain, a spokesman for Catalonia&#39;s ruling coalition said earlier.

&quot;We declare Catalonia an independent state in the form of a republic,&quot; reads the start of the proposed resolution crafted by separatist lawmakers, which hold a majority in the regional parliament that may later proceed to a vote, said the &quot;Together for Yes&quot; coalition spokesman.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy vowed&nbsp;to &quot;restore legality&quot; in Catalonia after the regional parliament declared independence.

&quot;I ask all Spaniards to remain calm. The rule of law will restore legality in Catalonia,&quot; he wrote in a Twitter message immediately after the Catalan assembly voted in favour of declaring independence from Spain.

Spanish senators met earlier on Friday to adopt drastic measures to impose direct rule on rebel region which held an unlawful independence referendum on October 1.

The Senate, where Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy&#39;s Popular Party holds a majority, is scheduled to vote on steps to depose Catalonia&#39;s secessionist government before the week is out.

Catalan bank shares fell after the&nbsp; regional parliament declared independence.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy vowed?to 'restore legality' in Catalonia after the regional parliament declared independence

The Catalan regional parliament has declared independence from Spain even as Madrid readies to take control of the region, AFP reported. The 70-10 ballot was boycotted only by Opposition MPs, BBC reported. Catalan separatist parties on Friday filed a resolution in the regional parliament in which they declared independence from Spain, a spokesman for Catalonia's ruling coalition said earlier. "We declare Catalonia an independent state in the form of a republic," reads the start of the proposed resolution crafted by separatist lawmakers, which hold a majority in the regional parliament that may later proceed to a vote, said the "Together for Yes" coalition spokesman. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy vowed to "restore legality" in Catalonia after the regional parliament declared independence. "I ask all Spaniards to remain calm. The rule of law will restore legality in Catalonia," he wrote in a Twitter message immediately after the Catalan assembly voted in favour of declaring independence from Spain. Spanish senators met earlier on Friday to adopt drastic measures to impose direct rule on rebel region which held an unlawful independence referendum on October 1. The Senate, where Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's Popular Party holds a majority, is scheduled to vote on steps to depose Catalonia's secessionist government before the week is out. Catalan bank shares fell after the regional parliament declared independence.

Catalan parliament declares independence from Spain

Catalonia&#39;s parliament will hold a plenary session on Thursday to decide its response to<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/spain-to-suspend-catalonias-government-call-elections-22701" target="_blank"> the central government&#39;s </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/spain-to-suspend-catalonias-government-call-elections-22701" target="_blank">move</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/spain-to-suspend-catalonias-government-call-elections-22701" target="_blank"> to dismiss the region&#39;s government,</a> a spokesman for the ruling separatist coalition said Monday.

The plenary could continue on Friday when Spain&#39;s Senate is expected to vote on measures proposed by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to dismiss the Catalan government, said Lluis Corominas, the spokesman for the Together for Yes coalition.

Catalan separatist parties have threatened to declare independence if the Senate approves the measures.

In a meeting held today, the Catalan Parliament said will hold a plenary session on Thursday to decide its response to the central government's move to dismiss the region's government

Catalonia's parliament will hold a plenary session on Thursday to decide its response to the central government's move to dismiss the region's government, a spokesman for the ruling separatist coalition said Monday. The plenary could continue on Friday when Spain's Senate is expected to vote on measures proposed by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to dismiss the Catalan government, said Lluis Corominas, the spokesman for the Together for Yes coalition. Catalan separatist parties have threatened to declare independence if the Senate approves the measures.

Catalan separatists set key parliament session for Thursday

Spain said Saturday that it will move to dismiss Catalonia&#39;s separatist government and call <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/spanish-government-meets-to-impose-direct-rule-on-catalonia-22695" target="_blank">fresh elections in the region in a bid to stop its leaders from declaring independence.</a>

Speaking after an emergency cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said his government had no choice after the administration of Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont acted in a way that was &quot;unilateral, contrary to the law and seeking confrontation&quot; in holding a banned independence referendum in the northeastern region.

Taking Spain into uncharted legal waters by using Article 155 of the constitution, which allows Madrid to wrest back control of rebellious regions, Rajoy said he was asking the Senate to give him permission to dissolve the Catalan parliament and &quot;call elections within a maximum of six months&quot;.&nbsp;

He is also requesting that all of Puigdemont&#39;s government be stripped of their functions, which &quot;in principle will be carried out by (national) ministers for the duration of this exceptional situation.&quot;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/spains-rajoy-says-critical-point-reached-in-catalonia-22677" target="_blank">Also read -- Critical point reached in Catalonia: Spanish Prime Minister</a>

The national Senate will now have to agree to these unprecedented steps -- a process that will take about a week.&nbsp;

Rajoy&#39;s conservative Popular Party holds a majority in the Senate. As the measures enjoy the support of other major parties, they are highly likely to pass.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/spain-to-suspend-catalonias-autonomy-in-response-to-independence-threat-22637" target="_blank">Also read:&nbsp;Spain to suspend Catalonia&#39;s autonomy in response to independence threat</a>

Catalonia sparked Spain&#39;s worst political crisis in decades with the chaotic referendum on October 1, which Puigdemont said resulted in a 90 percent vote in favour of breaking away from Spain.

But turnout was given as 43 percent as many anti-independence Catalans stayed away from the vote, which had been ruled illegal by the Constitutional Court, while others were hindered from voting by a police crackdown.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said his government had no choice after Catalonia's separatist government acted in a way that was 'unilateral, contrary to the law and seeking confrontation'

Spain said Saturday that it will move to dismiss Catalonia's separatist government and call fresh elections in the region in a bid to stop its leaders from declaring independence. Speaking after an emergency cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said his government had no choice after the administration of Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont acted in a way that was "unilateral, contrary to the law and seeking confrontation" in holding a banned independence referendum in the northeastern region. Taking Spain into uncharted legal waters by using Article 155 of the constitution, which allows Madrid to wrest back control of rebellious regions, Rajoy said he was asking the Senate to give him permission to dissolve the Catalan parliament and "call elections within a maximum of six months". He is also requesting that all of Puigdemont's government be stripped of their functions, which "in principle will be carried out by (national) ministers for the duration of this exceptional situation." Also read -- Critical point reached in Catalonia: Spanish Prime Minister The national Senate will now have to agree to these unprecedented steps -- a process that will take about a week. Rajoy's conservative Popular Party holds a majority in the Senate. As the measures enjoy the support of other major parties, they are highly likely to pass. Also read: Spain to suspend Catalonia's autonomy in response to independence threat Catalonia sparked Spain's worst political crisis in decades with the chaotic referendum on October 1, which Puigdemont said resulted in a 90 percent vote in favour of breaking away from Spain. But turnout was given as 43 percent as many anti-independence Catalans stayed away from the vote, which had been ruled illegal by the Constitutional Court, while others were hindered from voting by a police crackdown.

Spain to suspend Catalonia government, call elections