CATALONIA’s foreign affairs minister Raul Romeva has said he is not ruling out the possibility that he and his president could both be jailed, after Mariano Rajoy, the Spanish Prime Minister, issued his strongest threat yet that he could move to suspend the region’s existing autonomy.

Romeva told journalists in Brussels “the possibility remains” that he and Carles Puigdemont might be locked up if the latter did not clarify by this morning if he was declaring independence in the wealthy state.

“Our concern is that this could happen today in the European Union,” said Romeva, in a reference to the EU’s inaction over the crisis.

And he warned: “What happens in Catalonia will have long-lasting effects on Europe’s economy, values and credibility.”

Romeva also spoke of the “political prisoners” Jordi Sànchez, of the Catalan National Assembly (ANC), and Jordi Cuixart, from Òmnium Cultural.

Both were leading figures in the October 1 referendum, which the Madrid government branded illegal. Following the poll, which was marred by police brutality that left more than 800 people injured, Puigdemont signed a declaration of independence but halted its implementation and called for negotiations.

Politics are done through dialogue and negotiation,” said Romeva, adding that the Catalans remained open to mediation: “If someone can facilitate the dialogue, we are prepared, but it doesn’t depend on us. We are not the ones who ask for mediation, we ask for a negotiation.”

Rajoy has threatened to use the unprecedented “nuclear option” of implementing direct rule in Catalonia under Article 155 of Spain’s 1978 constitution – a move that would likely trigger an explosive reaction among Catalans.

He told the Spanish parliament yesterday: “All I ask of Mr Puigdemont is that he acts sensibly... to put the interest of all citizens first.”

Spain’s Senate, controlled by Rajoy’s conservative Popular Party (PP), would launch the transfer of powers from Barcelona to Madrid, which could range from taking control of Mossos d’Esquadra, the regional police, and finances, to calling a snap election. According to Spanish government sources, Madrid would not invoke Article 155 should Puigdemont himself call an election in Catalonia, but Romeva said: “Elections are not on the table now. It’s not in the plans of the party.

“We went to the elections in 2015 and 1.9 million people voted for parties defending the right of Catalonia to be an independent state.”

However, The National understands that the Catalan government will make no statement about a possible snap election until it hears what Rajoy says today.

The waiting game continued as it emerged that Theresa May spoke to Rajoy by phone on Tuesday, ahead of the European Council meeting that starts today in Brussels.

Catalonia is not on the summit agenda, but a Downing Street spokesperson said they had discussed it: “The Prime Minister reiterated that the UK is clear that the referendum had no legal basis and that any unilateral declaration of independence would be inconsistent with the rule of law. She added that the UK would not recognise any such declaration of independence by Catalonia.”

There are signs of support from within the EU, with senior Slovenian Social Democrat Jan Skoberne, saying his country would recognise Catalonia as an independent state: “The people of Slovenia are with Catalonia. I am convinced that we will be among the first to recognise the new republic.”

Members of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Catalonia, who had observed the poll, last night condemned the police violence during the referendum.

The SNP’s Douglas Chapman said: “If the 900 people had been injured in a concert or a football match, people would be in uproar about the horrific scenes.”

Committee chair, Hywel Williams, added: “It is astonishing that Mariano Rajoy denied the referendum and made no mention about the actions of its own police force.”