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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, after the region held an unlawful independence referendum on October 1.

Spain poised to roll back Catalonia's regional autonomy

Should direct rule be imposed, it will be the first time in four decades of democracy that Madrid has invoked the constitutional right to take control of a region and rule it directly from Madrid

Spanish government meets to impose direct rule on Catalonia

In an unprecedented move since Spain returned to democracy in the late 1970s, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy will impose direct rule in Catalonia unless the region's leader Carles Puigdemont retracts by 10 a.m. (0800 GMT) an ambiguous declaration of independence he made last week.

Spain-Catalonia standoff set to intensify

Madrid warns the region that it will take control if it insists on breaking away

Clarify intentions by next week, Spain tells Catalan President

The conservative Popular Party won elections in December 2015 and again in June this year but without enough seats to rule alone

Spain's Socialists lift veto, allow conservatives to form minority government