NINE Catalan “political prisoners” are to be pardoned for their part in the 2017 independence referendum and subsequent declaration of independence.
Spain’s socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez made the announcement in the Catalan capital Barcelona, during a speech setting out what he saw as the future of the wealthy north-eastern area.
He told civic society representatives his cabinet would approve the pardons tomorrow.
A total of 12 politicians and activists were convicted of sedition and other crimes and nine were jailed for between nine and 13 years.
Most Unionists boycotted the vote, which was marred by police violence as they tried to stop it.
No prominent indy supporters attended Sanchez’s address at Barcelona’s Opera House, while pro-indy protests were held outside.
Catalan President Pere Aragonès, who did not attend the Opera House, said the pardons were not enough.
“The unjust sentencing is now corrected but it is a partial, incomplete solution,” he told reporters at another event in the Ebre river region.
He said the real way out of the issue would be an amnesty for everyone involved in judicial procedures stemming from the indy push, which would include the jailed politicians and activists, and also those in exile – such as former president Carles Puigdemont and former minister Clara Ponsati.
The announcement from Sanchez came as the Council of Europe (CoE) debated a report calling for the prisoners’ release and ending the persecution of those in exile – the first time a political assessment of the trial has been addressed in-depth by a European institution.
However, the Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE) and People’s Party (PP) have tabled amendments omitting any reference to extending the pardons to the exiles and those who had held high office, such as former president Quim Torra, who was sacked for displaying yellow ribbons on government buildings.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel