Spain will move to impose direct rule on Catalonia this weekend after the region’s leader refused to drop his bid for independence.

Kanal24 reports citing Vice news that, a statement from the Prime Minister’s office Thursday said the government would invoke Article 155 of the constitution, giving it the power to suspend Catalonia’s autonomy and take over the running of its institutions.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said the move would be taken at a special cabinet meeting at which lawmakers would decide on measures to “restore the constitutional order” in Catalonia.

The statement came after Catalan president Carles Puigdemont ignored the 10 a.m. deadline by which to abandon his campaign to secede. Rather than backing down, Puigdemont said the region could formally declare independence if Madrid did not engage in talks.

“Despite all our efforts and our will for dialogue, the fact that your only answer is canceling our autonomy indicates that that you do not understand the problem and do not wish to talk,” he wrote.

Puigdemont also accused Madrid of the “repression” of separatist leaders, after two were taken into custody earlier this week.

Madrid’s move is a marked escalation in the crisis, which has roiled Spain since Catalonia’s leaders held a banned independence referendum earlier this month.