SPANISH Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez confirmed today that his government will pardon nine jailed leaders of Catalonia’s 2017 independence referendum.

In a speech at Barcelona’s opera house, he said: “I am convinced that getting these nine people out of prison … is a clear message of concord.”

It is expected that the separatist politicians will be freed in a few days after the cabinet in Madrid rubber-stamped the reprieve, which Mr Sanchez hopes will kick-start a dialogue with the wealthy north-eastern Spanish region.

“We don’t expect that those seeking independence will change their ideals, but we expect [they] understand there is no path outside the law,” he said.

Spain was internationally condemned for sentencing the politicians to terms of up to 13 years behind bars for holding the unconstitutional referendum.

Polls suggest 60 per cent of Spaniards oppose the release of the Catalan politicians, and the Spanish right regularly accuses the socialist-led government of indulging traitors by making concessions to the separatists.

Leader of the Catalan regional government Pere Aragones welcomed the pardons but said that it was not enough, demanding an amnesty for about 3,000 people involved in the referendum.

Mr Sanchez closed his address by saying: “Catalonia, Catalans, we love you,” in Catalan, as hundreds of protesters chanted for independence outside the venue.