Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said Monday he was willing to open a "dialogue" with Catalonia after pro-independence candidates won regional elections, but insisted he would not discuss the "end of unity with Spain".

"I am ready to listen and to talk, but not in any way to liquidate the law," Rajoy said in his first public remarks since Sunday's victory for the separatists. He added: "I am not going to talk about either the unity of Spain, or sovereignty."