Spain has threatened criminal action against 21 Catalan lawmakers deemed responsible for the nation's breakaway bid.

Madrid's Constitutional Court on Wednesday, as expected, struck down a series of tentative resolutions setting out a road map for independence.

But Spanish authorities warned of legal consequences for any parliamentarian who ignored the judgement and forged ahead with the resolutions.

Arch-unionist Madrid daily ABC, after picturing all the targeted deputies on its front page, said potential "consequences" included jail.

The Herald:

Politicians threatened included Catalan President Artur Mas - currently already facing legal action for holding a mock independence referendum last year - and Carme Forcadell, speaker of the country's parliament.

The Constitutional Court ruled: "If they fail to comply with the suspension, they may commit disobedience."

Catalan independentistes, fresh from an electoral victory in September, vowed to defy the threats, which had been widely expected.

Their historic resolutions include a determination that Spanish authorities have no legal jurisdiction over the independence process.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, pictured, heads to Barcelona on Saturday. He faces Spain-wide elections next month but both his main opposition parties, Ciudadanos and the Socialists, have backed his legalistic rather than political response to the Iberian crisis.

The Herald: Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy has held talks with David Cameron over the situation in Gibraltar (AP)

 

Mr Rajoy, pictured above, has taken a very different stance on independence than UK leader David Cameron did on Scotland. Some British unionists believe the Spanish response is counter-productive.

Mr Mas, meanwhile, has his own domestic problems. He has failed to secure the presidency in the new parliament. His Junts pel Si or Together for Yes single slate is the single biggest group in parliament.

Howevever, the pro-independence majority is formed with CUP, a leftist grouping that disagrees with Mr Mas, a centrist, on almost everything bar the constitution.

Catalan language news media stressed the contrast between Mr Mas's stalled presidential bid and the take off of anti-independence action from Madrid.

The pro-independence El Punt Avui ran a double headline front page on Thursday. "Emballats", "Speeding Up", it said with a picture of Mr Rajoy, contrasted with. "Encallats", or "Run Aground", with reference to Mr Mas's investiture.

The Herald: