CATALONIA will officially declare independence on Monday, according to government officials.

Pro-indy parties, who hold a majority in the Catalan parliament, have called for a debate in the regional administration, which will be followed by a vote.

A declaration will follow the vote, though it is not known when.

In his first interview since Sunday’s referendum, Puigdemont told the BBC that his government would “act at the end of this week or the  beginning of next”, meaning this will fall within the proposed timeline.

When asked what he would do if Madrid was to intervene and take control of Catalonia’s government, Puigdemont said it would be “an error which changes everything”.

Puigdemont spoke after an extra-ordinary television address by Spain’s king, Felipe VI, who claimed the Catalan authorities had deliberately bent the law with their “irresponsible conduct”.

The king complained the independence referendum was “undemocratic”  and said that “the state needs to ensure constitutional order and the rule of law in Catalonia.”

Felipe spoke out after tens of thousands of people joined in marches across the city of Barcelona in protest against the Spanish government’s  actions over the independence vote.

The king said that the bid by the authorities in Catalonia “undermined coexistence”.

“Today, Catalan society is fractured and confronted,” Felipe said, referring to the political crisis as “very serious moments for our  democratic life”.

He said the state needs to ensure Spain’s constitutional order and the correct functioning of Catalan institutions and rule of law.  Spain’s conservative government has said it will respond with “all necessary measures” to counter the Catalan defiance. It is holding talks with national opposition leaders to try to find consensus on the response.

Many Catalans were drawn to the streets following the crackdown on the referendum vote.

In Barcelona’s Catalonia and  University squares, a sea of demonstrators waved flags, most of them Esteladas, but there were also several Spanish national flags. Among many banners displayed, one read “Stop violence, #CataloniaIsComing” and another one asked: “Where are you Europe?”

One of the biggest groups concentrated around the Spanish national police headquarters in Barcelona, where protesters called them  “occupying forces” and called for Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to resign.

Barcelona’s football stars were among workers in Catalonia to down tools as part of the general strike. The club said none of its professional or youth teams were training and the club base was closed.

Girona also did not train while Espanyol’s players exercised behind closed doors.

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique, one of the most outspoken supporters of Catalonia, was harassed by fans on Monday when he reported to Spain’s national team training camp in  Madrid before the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

Several hundred Barcelona port workers held a demonstration outside  the regional headquarters of Spain’s ruling Popular Party chanting slogans  against government policies and  police brutality during Sunday’s vote.