'No shortcuts' to independence, says former vice president from prison

Former vice president Oriol Junqueras sees "no shortcuts" to achieving Catalan independence beyond organizing a legal and binding referendum in agreement with Spain.

In a written interview from pre-trial prison, where he has been for almost a year, Junqueras insists that holding a referendum in agreement with Madrid has "always" been his priority.

"We weren't the ones not wanting to sit at the [negotiation] table. It was the Spanish government led by Mariano Rajoy," he said.

Last year, the Catalan government, headed by former president Carles Puigdemont and Junqueras himself, went ahead with organizing a referendum despite Spain's fierce opposition. Now, Junqueras and eight other leaders are in prison, while Puigdemont is in exile with six other officials.

"I don't see any shortcuts [to independence]. It all depends on our democratic strength, and this can be counted by votes and with the complicity of a vital and organized civil society, with social and economic agents engaged and taking part in it," he told TV3.

Oriol Junqueras admits that a lack of engagement from part of society was one of the main "weaknesses" of the pro-independence movement.

"The stronger we become, the more difficult it will be to stop democracy," he added.

"There is only one way," he added, saying that the independence movement should learn from the "mistakes" of the past.

"To move forward, we should be brave enough to speak clearly. And to admit where we are and not where we would like to be," he insisted, when asked about whether the pro-independence parties should have a 'common strategy.'

No hopes for fair trial

Junqueras, who faces up to 30 years in jail for his role in organizing last year's unilateral referendum, says he won't get a "fair" trial.

"We won't give up. This is a political trial, full of irregularities. We won't be humiliated for having followed the mandate given to us by the votes of an overall majority of citizens," he added.