SPAIN’s new government will be judged by the freedom of Catalonia’s political prisoners and the return of its exiles, according to Catalonia’s new foreign minister.

Ernest Maragall, a former MEP, was speaking after the new Catalan government took office under president Quim Torra – a move that marked the end of the direct rule imposed by ousted prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, following last October’s independence referendum.

He said one of his first actions in his new post would to reconvene the board of trustees of the Diplomatic Council of Catalonia (Diplocat) which had been scrapped and its staff sacked by Rajoy – effectively wiping out the wealthy north-eastern state’s presence abroad.

Maragall told RAC1 radio that under him Catalonia’s place in the world would grow and it would become more significant.

He added that Spain’s new prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, will have to act over the many laws and regional government functions that were halted under Rajoy.

Maragall said: “The thermometer of the new Spanish Government will be the treatment of prisoners and exiles. The freedom of political prisoners and the return of exiles is the first measure we have to expect from a government that is called ‘progressive’.”

Maragall added that he was keen that former MEP Raul Romeva, who is among those imprisoned without trial charged with sedition and other offences, played a part in Catalonia’s future: “The asset that Romeva represents for the country is so great that it would be absurd to not put it at the service of the future of Catalonia.”

The end of direct rule – under Article 155 of the Spanish constitution – was the automatic result of the Catalan government’s inauguration on Saturday, an emotional event that came as Sanchez was sworn in as Spanish prime minister.

Known as the “Comeback Kid”, 46-year-old Sanchez – who is not an MP – will have his work cut out trying to solve the Catalan crisis.

He supported Rajoy over his declaration that the referendum was illegal and was critical of the independence push, although he has said he would open a dialogue with Catalonia.

Also, he has only 84 MPs in the 350-seat legislature and had to rely on support from pro-independence parties in Catalonia and the Basque Country to oust Rajoy.

Speaking shortly after Sanchez was sworn in, Torra said: “We need to sit down at the same table and negotiate, government to government.

“This situation we’re going through cannot go on for even one more day.”

Former ministers and key pro-independence figures, including former ministers and grassroots leaders, remain locked up or in exile.

Former president Carles Puigdemont is in Berlin awaiting a ruling on a European Arrest Warrant issued by Spain, as is Clara Ponsati – a St Andrews University academic and former Catalan education minister. Five of their colleagues remain exiled in Belgium.

Saturday’s inauguration was an emotional event because of those still imprisoned and a yellow ribbon – the colour that shows solidarity with the displaced – was set in the front row of the audience as messages from them were read out.

Blanca Bragulat, wife of jailed and deposed minister Jordi Turull, quoted a letter from him: “The road for an independent Catalonia is a noble, legitimate, democratic, peaceful cause. No prison or unfair judicial case will make me give up.”

Jailed minister Josep Rull said through his wife, Meritxell Lluis: “We’ve been imprisoned for having defended legitimate ideas, for having respected the people’s mandate.”

Carme Forcadell, former speaker of the Catalan parliament, said from prison through husband, Bernat Pegueroles: “I ask you to not forget us, I ask you to continue asking for our freedom.”