A Spanish Supreme Court judge has ordered the Catalan parliament speaker to be jailed pending her release on bail of €150,000 (£133,000), amid an investigation into her role in the region's banned push for independence, a court source said.

Carme Forcadell, will be held in custody until the bail is paid, the source said.

Ms Forcadell and five regional lawmakers testified on charges of sedition, rebellion and misuse of public funds.

Four other officials would also be released on €25,000 bail, while a fifth would be freed on certain conditions without bail, the source said.

On Thursday, High Court Judge Carmen Lamela rejected an appeal presented by their lawyers for their release, a court spokeswoman said.

Ms Forcadell had earlier told the Supreme Court that the 27 October independence declaration was not legally binding, according to court sources, in a comment that could undermine the region's secessionist push.

The Catalan independence push has deeply divided Spain, dragging it into its worst political crisis since the return of democracy four decades ago and fuelling anti-Spanish sentiment in Catalonia and nationalist tendencies elsewhere.

Ex-speaker of the Catalonia parliament Carme Forcadell, centre, arrives at the Supreme Court in Madrid (AP)

But the struggle has also divided Catalonia itself, and cracks have begun appearing within the pro-independence movement.

On Tuesday, deposed Catalan president Carles Puigdemont's PDeCAT party failed to agree on a united ticket to contest the election with another secessionist party, making it difficult for the pro-independence camp to govern the region after the vote and press ahead with its bid to split from Spain.

Catalan parliament votes on independence: in pictures Show all 15 1 /15 Catalan parliament votes on independence: in pictures Catalan parliament votes on independence: in pictures Catalan parliament votes for independence Catalan independence supporters react to the news that the Catalan Parliament voted to declare independence Getty Images Catalan parliament votes on independence: in pictures Catalan parliament votes for independence Catalan separatists react as the Catalan Parliament votes the independence of Catalonia Rex Catalan parliament votes on independence: in pictures Catalan parliament votes for independence People react as they celebrate the unilateral declaration of independence of Catalonia AP Catalan parliament votes on independence: in pictures Catalan parliament votes for independence Catalan government members, pro independence deputies, and Mayors from pro indpendence towns sing the Catalan anthem REUTERS Catalan parliament votes on independence: in pictures Catalan parliament votes for independence People celebrate after the approval of the declaration of a uniteral independence EPA Catalan parliament votes on independence: in pictures Catalan parliament votes for independence Catalan pro-independence mayors raise their batons as they gather in the parliament AFP/Getty Images Catalan parliament votes on independence: in pictures Catalan parliament votes for independence Catala president Carles Puigdemont sings the Catalan anthem AFP/Getty Images Catalan parliament votes on independence: in pictures Catalan parliament votes for independence Protesters shouts slogans during a rally outside the Catalan Parliament AP Catalan parliament votes on independence: in pictures Catalan parliament votes for independence People react as they watch on giant screens a plenary session outside the Catalan regional parliament REUTERS Catalan parliament votes on independence: in pictures Catalan parliament votes for independence An aerial view shows thousands of people gathering near the Catalan regional Parliament EPA Catalan parliament votes on independence: in pictures Catalan parliament votes for independence Protesters during a rally outside the Catalan Parliament AP Catalan parliament votes on independence: in pictures Catalan parliament votes for independence People react as they watch on giant screens REUTERS Catalan parliament votes on independence: in pictures Catalan parliament votes for independence Leftist party CUP leader Anna Gabriel casts her ballot REUTERS Catalan parliament votes on independence: in pictures Catalan parliament votes for independence A protester reacts AP Catalan parliament votes on independence: in pictures Catalan parliament votes for independence Popular Party leader Xavier Garcia Albiol gestures REUTERS

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy called the election following the independence declaration, which also prompted him to dissolve the Catalan parliament and fire Mr Puigdemont's administration.

Ms Forcadell at the time described Mr Rajoy's actions as a "coup" and an "attack against democracy".

The Supreme Court, which handles cases against defendants with parliamentary immunity, will decide whether to remand Ms Forcadell and the other five legislators in custody pending the investigation, or release them under certain conditions.

The same court decided on Thursday to take over two other cases against Ms Forcadell and the lawmakers currently overseen by the Catalan High Court, suggesting judges were looking to centralise all legal proceedings involving the independence vote in one court.

Spain's High Court has issued an arrest warrant on sedition and rebellion charges for Mr Puigdemont, who went into self-imposed exile in Belgium last week, and against four former members of his cabinet who are with him in Brussels.

"Mr Puigdemont has fled, but Mr Puigdemont will come back and answer to Spanish justice. I have no doubt (about this) at all," Spain's Interior Minister Juan Ignacio Zoido told Spanish television on Thursday.

The deposed leader appealed without success for EU intervention over the crisis.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, speaking from the Spanish city of Salamanca, called on Europe to reject all forms of separatism.

"Nationalisms are a poison that prevent Europe from working together," he said.