Catalonia's president Quim Torra stood trial on Monday on a charge of disobedience for refusing an order to pull down yellow ribbons attached to Catalan government buildings in solidarity with jailed politicians.

If found guilty, Mr Torra could be barred from public office for up to two years, which would almost certainly trigger fresh elections in Catalonia and potentially deepen the political crisis in Spain.

Ahead of national, local and European elections held in Spain in April and May, the country’s electoral board ordered the removal of the ribbons deemed supportive of pro-independence parties.

The ribbons paid tribute to nine politicians jailed for holding an unlawful referendum in 2017.

Answering a member of his defence team, Mr Torra admitted that he had disobeyed the electoral board because it was, he claimed, an “illegal order” and “censorship”.