FC Barcelona's president has expressed the club's support for democracy as Spain announced plans to suspend Catalonia's government.

Josep Maria Bartomeu made the response before his address at the club's 2017 General Assembly.

He also called for calm in the club's stadium when the side face Malaga in a league fixture this evening.

READ MORE: Catalonia's Government suspended by Rajoy as Spain reveals use of unprecedented measures in takeover

Bartomeu said: "Before turning to the agenda, allow me to comment on the latest developments regarding the situation in Catalonia.

"Barca has always stood by the people of Catalonia and its institutions. So today, on the application of article 155, we must reiterate our absolute support for the democratic institutions of Catalonia chosen by its people.

"We also wish to express our support for and solidarity with all of the affected parties and the public media.

"Now, more than ever, we must act with serenity. Any reaction must be civil and peaceful. In the stadium too.

"And now more than ever, we must reiterate our support for dialogue as the only possible means to find a solution for the situation in Catalonia."

Spain's prime minister Mariano Rajoy has said he wants the country's senate to give him direct power to dissolve the Catalan government and call an election as soon as possible.

Rajoy said after a cabinet meeting that the central government needs to take the unprecedented step of assuming control of Catalonia to "restore order" in the face of support for independence.

He is proposing that the powers of Catalan officials be taken over by central government ministers.

Rajoy's government is activating a previously untapped constitutional article to take control of Catalonia.

Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont will issue a response after an afternoon protest.

In the streets of Barcelona, banging pots and pans and honking cars greeted Rajoy's announcement.

At the national level, Pablo Echenique, a secretary in the far-left Podemos party, vowed to work to oust Rajoy and his conservative Popular Party.

Pro-business Ciudadanos (Citizens) party president Albert Rivera says he supports the announced measures to heal divisions created by the Catalan independence movement and to provide the security companies need to remain in Catalonia.