CATALONIA MEP Alfred Bosch blasted Emmanuel Macron saying France is not the European Union and would not be able to expel the region if it became independent.
Mr Bosch, MEP for pro-independence party Republican Left of Catalonia, said the European Union member state would not have the jurisdiction to throw out European citizens from the bloc.
Speaking on Channel 4 News, the MEP added France needed to view the move for independence with “more optimism”.
Presenter Matt Frei said: “France has threatened to expel independent Catalonia from the EU, you can’t be happy about that."
But Mr Bosch replied that would not happen.
He said: “Well France is not the European Union so they can’t expel European citizens from Europe and we are European citizens.
“So we feel very comfortable there. We would like the French government to view this with a bit more optimism and we would like them to participate in any international mediation because they’re so close.”
Mr Macron waded into the increasingly tense debate over Catalonia’s independence referendum, saying he was confident Spain’s Prime Minister could defend the interests of Spain.
Speaking at a press conference after an EU summit in Tallinn, Estonia, called for “serenity” on the issue which is causing huge divisions in Spain.
Catalonia has repeatedly defied orders from the central government in Madrid, saying they will go ahead with the referendum despite Madrid ruling the vote is unconstitutional and so illegal.
The French President appeared to back the central government in Madrid and the conservative administration led by the Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.
Mr Macron said: “I have confidence in his determination to defend the interests of all of Spain.”
He added he saw Spain as a “partner” of France and Mr Macron went on to praise his counterpart in Spain, saying: "He manages as well as possible Spain's internal affairs.”