Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has urged Catalans to turn out in large numbers to vote in a snap election next month, as he made his first visit to Catalonia since the central government of Spain imposed direct rule over the region, Al Jazeera reports.
Rajoy travelled to Barcelona on Sunday to campaign ahead of the December 21 regional poll.
The Spanish leader said the vote next month would safeguard the region's economy and stop companies moving out of Catalonia.