'I can't open prisons,' says Catalan president

The Catalan president, Quim Torra, said that he cannot "open prisons" to release the political leaders in jail.

Speaking to the international press on the Catalan National Day, he ruled out freeing the officials even though the Catalan government is the one managing the penitentiary centers where they are held.

This has been an option rumored in the press in the past few days as a possible reaction to a potential prison sentence for these leaders.

Torra also said that he will not use the prisoners as a "bargaining chip" in his negotiations with the Spanish president, Pedro Sánchez.

For him, if there is no "absolutory sentence" in the trial, he will "take action" in coordination with the Catalan Parliament –but freeing them is out of the question.

Yet Torra did not specify what would be his plans after a trial ending with more time in jail for the leaders in precautionary detention.

During his political speech last week he revealed he would decide what steps he would take once the verdict is out.

His foreign minister, Ernest Maragall, said that it is the Spanish judiciary the one which has to "recover sense."

"Not a normal National Day"

Torra emphasized that it is "not a normal National Day," and that the protest will "send a message" that pro-independence supporters "are not afraid."

"No more threats, let's talk, let's face it, negotiate," he said.

"Errors" of last autumn

Asked about whether holding last year's referendum had "been worth it," Torra defended that it had been. "It was worth it, it's always worth fighting for freedom. People who fight for their freedom try it one way or another," he said.

According to the president, the referendum "has served, one year on" to "reinforce the Catalan pro-independence movement."