'No way out' if Madrid denies agreed referendum, says jailed former VP

The Catalan former ministers now in pre-trial jail are pushing the Spanish government to agree on a referendum from behind bars like the current cabinet.

Through two interview, former Puigdemont executive members urge Madrid to accept such a vote.

"If they continue flatly rejecting it, not only agreeing on a vote, but speaking about it, they will take a no way out path," said former vice president Oriol Junqueras in a written article published by El Punt Avui newspaper.

For him, such denial "might only end up generating the conditions for another October 1 [referendum day]."

Junqueras: "We have earned right to decide"

"We have earned the right to be, the right to decide," he said in the text titled '325 days behind bars, 325 reaffirming convictions.' "As the days go by, we do not understand why [the new Spanish Socialist government] does not learnt from what [former Spanish president] Mariano Rajoy did not do well: not taking any initiative."