Would a snap election in Catalonia stop the self-rule suspension?

The moment is nearing when the Spanish Senate votes on Article 155 on Friday, thus paving the way for the government in Madrid to impose direct rule in Catalonia. Yet, it is not clear how will the Catalan government respond to the imminent self-rule suspension — and whether a snap election, as it was earlier suggested, would be enough to preempt the Spanish president Mariano Rajoy from taking over the Catalan executive.

“There are two things we need to do: First of all, restore legality: this is why we put Article 155 of the Constitution in motion,” Rajoy said at the Spanish Parliament on Wednesday. The next step would be for his government to call a snap election in Catalonia no later than in 6 months; Rajoy did not make clear, however, whether Catalan president Carles Puigdemont can prevent the self-rule suspension by calling an early election himself.