The former Catalan President, Carles Puigdemont, has called on the Spanish government to "respect democracy" and recognise the Catalan leaders as "legitimate representatives."

CARLES PUIGDEMONT FORMER CATALAN PRESIDENT "The path for political negotiations based on mutual respect, this is what Europe expects, this is what the Catalan people asks for, this is what the Catalan economy, society and culture need."

His comments come a day after a German state court released him on bail and rejected Spain's request to have the former Catalan leader extradited. Madrid is seeking Puigdemont's extradition for rebellion and misuse of public funds in organizing an unauthorized referendum on Catalonia's independence from Spain last year. A state court ruled on Thursday that the charge of rebellion did not warrant extradition, because it is not punishable under German law. But said Puigdemont can still be extradited on the less serious charge of misuse of funds.