SPANISH Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy called on the Catalan regional government yesterday to say whether it had declared independence or not.

Confusion reigned after Catalan regional President Carles Puigdemont’s Tuesday night speech in the wake of October 1’s unilateral independence referendum for the autonomous community, which Madrid said was unconstitutional and tried to violently suppress.

Following a session of the regional parliament, Mr Puigdemont said he was issuing an independence declaration — but suspending it for weeks for negotiations with Madrid.

Supporters of independence gathered around the Barcelona parliament reacted with joy and then dismay at the about-face.

But with turnout at just 43 per cent — with most citizens opposed to independence refusing to participate in the poll – Brussels siding squarely with Madrid and Sunday’s million-strong march against the move, Mr Puigdemont had already begun back-peddling.

Speaking at noon after a morning cabinet meeting, conservative People’s Party leader Mr Rajoy demanded clarification from Mr Puigdemont.

He said Barcelona’s response would determine "events over the coming days" such as whether the government invokes article 155 of the constitution, suspending the regional government.

Mr Rajoy rejected talks, saying: "There is no possible mediation between democratic law and disobedience and unlawfulness."

He said the referendum was called "to impose independence that few want and is good for nobody."

Main opposition Socialist Party leader Pedro Sanchez backed Mr Rajoy’s stonewall stance, saying Mr Puigdemont needed to state his intentions in "black and white."

But he said he and Mr Rajoy had agreed to talks six months hence on changing the constitution on regional autonomy to "allow for Catalonia to remain a part of Spain."

In Brussels, European Commission Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis said the EU’s ruling committee was monitoring the situation and “reiterates its earlier call for full respect of the Spanish constitutional order."

Germany also rejected Catalan independence, with Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokeswoman Ulrike Demmer saying Berlin would not even play a mediation role.

She said a split from Spain "would be illegal and would not receive any recognition" from Germany.

Earlier German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel warned a unilateral declaration of independence would be "irresponsible" and threatens “European unity.”

He that "a solution can only be successful through talks based on the rule of law and within the frame of the Spanish constitution."