National
Fresh rulings on Catalan politicians keep separatism at centre stage
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The Supreme Court has said ERC party leader, Oriol Junqueras, cannot be let out of prison to be an MEP
The fate of Catalan separatist politicians continued to heavily feature in the national political debate this week.
Last week the Junta Electoral (electoral commission) said that Quim Torra, Catalan president, had to stop being a regional MP after a court disqualified him for allowing pro-separatist symbols to be shown on public buildings during an election. The electoral commission added, however, that it was down to the Catalan parliament to stop him from leading the government.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court said ERC party leader, Oriol Junqueras, cannot be let out of prison to be an MEP. Junqueras was sentenced in October to 13 years over the independence declaration. But an EU advisory court last month said that before he was sentenced he could have had immunity and attended Euro parliament sessions. The Spanish court has now told his lawyers that, as his prison term has since been confirmed and he isn't on remand, he can't be freed.
Self-exiled ex-Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont and two others have asked the Constitutional Court to end their arrest warrants, as they are "recognised" as MEPs.
