The European Union would lose credibility if it let Madrid impose direct rule on Catalonia, and only the Catalan people have the right to change the regional institutions, Catalonia's foreign affairs spokesman said today.

"How can the European Union live with that situation if it appears?" Raul Romeva told BBC radio, when asked how the Catalan regional government would prevent the Spanish government from re-imposing direct rule.

"How can they be credible if they allow this to happen? Because what I can tell you is that the people and the institutions in Catalonia would not let this ... happen."

In the meantime, the Deputy Prime Minister said today that the regional leader of Catalonia Carles Puigdemont would lose all powers and would stop receiving a salary once the Senate approves article 155 which imposes direct central government rule on the region.

A single representative may be temporarily instated by Madrid to govern the region after the Senate approves direct rule, Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said in a radio interview. The Senate is expected to approve the measures on Friday.

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