World leaders stand firm with Spain as PM Rajoy calls for snap polls in Catalonia on December 21

The political crisis in the European nation stemmed from a referendum on October 1 by the Catalans in a move to secede from Spain, which was declared illegal by Spanish authorities. Following the dissolution of the Catalan Parliament, Rajoy addressed the nation and announced for a snap election on December 21 in Catalonia.

SEE PHOTOS | This is how Catalonia celebrated its declaration of independence from Spain

“Spain is living through a sad day,” Rajoy said. “We believe it is urgent to listen to Catalan citizens, to all of them, so that they can decide their future and nobody can act outside the law on their behalf.”

World leaders back Spain 

Reactions from around the world are pouring in on the political development in Madrid.

United States: The US on Saturday backed Spain’s efforts in uniting the nation and supported the Spanish government calling Catalonia an integral part of the nation.

#Spain is important @NATO ally, #Catalonia is integral part of #Spain. We support constitutional measures to keep #Spain strong & united. pic.twitter.com/dGd2sQ3EHs

— Matthew Miller (@StateDeptSpox) October 27, 2017

European Union: President of European Union Council Donald Tusk said that nothing changes for the EU and that Spain remains its only interlocutor.

For EU nothing changes. Spain remains our only interlocutor. I hope the Spanish government favours force of argument, not argument of force.

— Charles Michel (@eucopresident) October 27, 2017

France: According to The Associated Press, French President Emmanuel Macron called for a united Spain and recognised PM Rajoy as its only interlocutor. Macron said, “There is a rule of law in Spain with constitutional rules. Mariano Rajoy wants these rules to be respected and he has my full support.”

Germany: Steffen Seibert, spokesperson to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, too denounced Catalan’s declaration of independence and and said, “The (German) federal government does not recognise such an independence declaration.”

#Katalonien: Die Bundesregierung erkennt die einseitige Unabhängigkeitserklärung des Regionalparlaments nicht an. pic.twitter.com/dsC1fl7ub8

— Steffen Seibert (@RegSprecherStS) October 27, 2017

Mexico: Mexico will not recognize Catalonia’s declaration of independence from Spain, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto wrote in a post on Twitter on Friday evening.

México no reconocerá la declaración unilateral de independencia de Cataluña. Hacemos votos por una solución política y pacífica.

— Enrique Peña Nieto (@EPN) October 27, 2017