Spain's Ministry of Justice said Madrid is "ready to apply all legal instruments" against Catalonia, El Pais reported.

The Spanish government is gearing up to impose direct control over Catalonia, The Guardian reported.

While addressing parliament on Wednesday, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy asked Catalan President Carles Puigdemont’s colleagues to persuade him “not to make any more problems” that would “oblige the government to make decisions that would be better never to make." Spain's Ministry of Justice also said that Madrid is "ready to apply all legal instruments" against Catalonia, El Pais reported.

Last week, Rajoy gave Puigdemont until Oct. 19 to give a final independence announcement. Rajoy and the conservative-majority parliament told Puigdemont that if they align to the central government, they will have to declare the Oct. 1 referendum vote illegal and void, and return the region to “constitutional order,” among other legal procedures. 

If Puigdemont declares Catalonia independent, Rajoy threatens to impose Article 155 of the Constitution, taking direct political and economic rule of the Catalan region, and likely call for immediate regional elections.

La Vanguardia newspaper of Catalonia said Puigdemont was considering calling for immediate elections as part of a declaration of independence, in which case Madrid would not impose direct rule. But Catalonia’s chief foreign minister quickly snuffed this rumor, saying “elections are not on the table now.”

However, Puigdemont’s spokesperson, Jordi Turull, added that “giving in forms no part of this government’s scenarios.”

Spain’s central government has continually repressed Catalonia's efforts in the lead up to and during the Oct. 1 vote, confiscating 10 million blank ballots and injuring nearly 900 voters the day of the referendum, among other acts. 

The government also accused several Catalan independence leaders and the director of the region’s police force of sedition last week. Of the accused is Catalan National Assembly leader Jordi Sanchez and Omnium chief Jordi Cuixart, who were imprisoned without trial. This led to hundreds of thousands protesting their imprisonment on Tuesday night in Barcelona.