CATALONIA’s former foreign minister has told the trial of pro-independence leaders in Madrid that he is a “political prisoner” and, in common with former vice-president Oriol Junqueras, he would not answer prosecutors’ questions because his is a “political trial”.

Raul Romeva’s remarks came as the trial of 12 pro-indy politicians and activists started its second week at Spain’s Supreme Court. He is accused of rebellion for his role in the 2017 referendum, which led to a declaration of Catalan independence.

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In his opening remarks, Romeva, who has been in pre-trial detention for a year, said: “There is no international treaty prohibiting the right to self-determination. Not even the Spanish constitution.

“In the 20th and 21st centuries there have been 106 self-determination referendums, 54 since 1991, and 26 without state consent.”

Throughout history, he said more had been achieved by peaceful means than violence, which was “not an intelligent” way to go.

“Defending the non-violent way is not only a matter of ideology, but a matter of pragmatism.

“I’m sure it’s more likely that I’ll achieve my political goals if I pursue them through peaceful means.”

Romeva said that all through “the process” as the independence campaign is called in Catalonia, there were as many as 20 attempts to seek a dialogue with the Spanish Government.

“Everything we used to do was public – and we used to explain why we were doing it this way,” he said.

“There was no other solution, as on the other side, we were only met with empty chairs and closed doors.”

He said that while in office he would defend self-determination in meetings with foreign officials, because it was part of the agenda, but he denied it was a crime.

“Democracies must protect the right to protest, even when it goes against their interests,” he said. “A democracy that persecutes the right to protest is a fragile one.

“We did call on people to take part in a referendum. But we also said we would respect any outcome of the vote. We’re here today because those who should have been doing politics in their time, didn’t.”

The court heard earlier from former head of presidential affairs Jordi Turull, who said 80% of Catalan society wanted to vote on the future of Catalonia and officials had to find a balance between observing the law and their commitment to the population.

Public prosecutor Jaime Moreno asked him: “Was the independence declaration a formal declaration?”

Turull replied: “It was a political declaration. It was the expression of a political will that fits in with the majority feeling of the people of Catalonia.”

Former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont, who fled Spain to avoid arrest, said Turull’s court statements had been “spectacular”, tweeting from his Belgian exile: “His decision to stand firm against the public prosecution should elicit shame in those who unleashed an indecent repression.”

The court revealed yesterday that former Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy, who was in power at the time of the indyref, would give evidence on Tuesday. Former Catalan president Artur Mas and Speaker of the Catalan Parliament, Roger Torrent, would appear on the same day.