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Ousted Catalan President Carles Puigdemont's center-right PDeCAt and the leftist ERC of former regional vice president Oriol Junqueras jointly ran Catalonia for two years until Spain sacked the government. The strike was called as leaders of the Catalonian secessionist movement attempt to regain political momentum after failing to agree on a joint ticket to contest the election. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy predicted Wednesday the elections would "open a new political era" in the region with a return to normalcy and respect for Spanish law. Spain dismissed the regional government, disbanded its parliament and called for a new regional election next month. The Spanish government took the unprecedented step of taking control of the autonomous region of Catalonia after the regional government disregarded Constitutional Court mandates and approved a declaration of independence on October 27. Spain's two primary unions did not support the strike, which did not appear to have a significant effect on businesses and the area's thriving tourism industry.

National railway operator Renfe said service was stopped on dozens of lines, including several high-speed lines. The blockades caused disruptions on more than 60 sections of railroad and highway, including roads leading to the regional capital of Barcelona, according to the Catalan Transit Service.

Pro-independence protesters obstructed major highways, roads and railway lines Wednesday in Spain's Catalonia region as part of a general strike in protest of the detention of expelled Catalan government officials and secessionist activists.