Turull: 'Catalans aren't sheep, independence movement is bottom-up'

Former Catalan minister, Jordi Turull, argued in Spain’s Supreme Court on Tuesday that the government followed the wishes of the public in organizing a referendum on independence in 2017.

"Catalans are not sheep," Turull told the prosecutor, adding: "We weren't looking to involve people [in the independence bid], that already existed, and so a political solution had to be provided."

As former presidency minister and cabinet spokesman, Turull was one of the highest-ranking government officials during the 2017 independence referendum, which the Spanish authorities declared illegal.

Having so far spent 366 days in preventive detention, Turull is charged with rebellion and misuse of public funds, and faces a hefty prison sentence.