Bringing Catalan prisoners home: where does each party stand?

There are nine Catalan leaders jailed in Madrid for their role in the independence bid: the former parliament speaker, two grassroots activists, and six ministers deposed by the Spanish government following a declaration of independence last October.

They all face charges of rebellion—a much contested accusation, as it implies a degree of violence that pro-independence leaders claim never existed in Catalonia. Most of them entered prison on March 23 for a second time, having previously spent a month in jail before. Two politicians have been behind bars since November 2, while the two civil society leaders entered prison on October 16.

On Thursday, the Spanish judge in charge of the case against them rejected releasing three of them, arguing there is a "risk of flight" and they could "reoffend".