Artur Mas calls early elections in Catalonia for Nov.25

Catalonia government president Artur Mas has called early elections for the powerful northeastern region, a vote that will likely be seen as something of a referendum on independence from Spain.

In a regional parliamentary debate Tuesday, Mas set the date for Nov. 25. Mas called the elections more than two years ahead of schedule after the central government in Madrid last week rejected a demand to grant Catalonia special fiscal powers.

Days earlier, Mas led a massive rally in Barcelona that was seen as a show of strength for the region's pro-independence camp and a warning to Madrid.

Catalonia is Spain's most economically powerful region but also the one most in debt. It has asked for 5.02 billion euros ($6.49 billion) from a central government fund.