Catalunya's government sacked, but Puigdemont refuses to leave

Elections will be called in the region on December 21.

But Puigdemont has refused to leave his role, which could lead to his been charged with the criminal offence of usurping a public office role.

Catalunya's regional television channel, TV3, referred to Puigdemont as the 'president' in an earlier broadcast, and the national government has filed a formal complaint.

Rajoy's second in command, Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría, will reportedly take over the role of president of Catalunya.

Puigdemont says his now-ex government will stage a 'democratic opposition against Article 155' of the Spanish Constitution, which was triggered yesterday (Friday) placing Catalunya under State rule, and says he 'does not recognise' his removal from office.

National Police deputy chief in Catalunya, Ferrán López will replace Josep Lluís Trapero as head of the regional military police, the Mossos d'Esquadra, since Trapero has now been removed from his post.

A demonstration has been staged in Madrid's Plaza de Colón, near the city's central shopping street of the same name, in support of the unity of Spain.

According to a survey conducted post-referendum by Metroscopia, in which 500 residents of Catalunya were interviewed, a total of 76% say they feel 'equally catalán and Spanish' whilst 3% say they feel 'Spanish only', with just 19% identifying exclusively as catalán.

Of those who identify as both, a quarter say they feel more catalán than Spanish, 5% feel more Spanish than catalán, whilst 46% admit to an equal split in their origin identity.

The latter accounts for eight in 10 who typically vote for the socialists, Ciudadanos and the PP and 47% of Podemos voters.