Of course it is a very failed-state-like attempt at controlling optics on both sides: Spain PM and ruling party is marred with corruption cases and independentists parties have been failing to take Catalonia out of recession. Both sides have interest in the current controversy. I'm not minimising the will of some (even many or even majority) of Catalans, or even the will of Spain to keep its integrity through democratic means, but the current escalation everything to do with manipulation by self-interest ed parties.