Puigdemont: 'Spain's unity isn't a religious principle'

Former president Carles Puigdemont has again publicly defended the decision to hold last October's independence referendum, despite it being declared illegal by the Spanish authorities.

In a speech he gave on Wednesday at the International Theater in Amsterdam, Puigdemont added that "the unity of Spain is not a religious principle, but rather a fact to be confirmed at the ballot box."

Addressing an audience of some 700 people, the Catalan leader also called it "unjust" to say that pro-independence supporters were motivated by "rage," after protesters clashed with police on Monday outside Parliament.