Catalan speaker to meet with Flemish counterpart in Belgium

The Catalan parliament speaker, Roger Torrent, will next week meet his Flemish counterpart, Jan Peumans, at the latter's request, according to the chamber's vice president, Josep Costa.

Peumans' recent criticisms of Spain for having "political prisoners," in reference to Catalan leaders being held in pre-trial detention, led Spanish foreign minister, Josep Borrell, to withdraw the diplomatic credentials of the Flemish government's delegate to Spain.

Costa also said that the Parliament bureau had authorized a series of delegations to travel to Brussels on December 3 and 4, one of which will include Costa, who will explain the situation in Catalonia to the foreign affairs committee of Belgium's federal parliament.

Torra to make trip "in next few days"

Meanwhile, president Quim Torra will also make a trip, to Slovenia, “in the next few days,” according to former Slovenian foreign minister, Ivo Vajgl.

Vajgl, currently a member of the European Parliament, announced the president's trip on Tuesday during the presentation in Brussels of the Parliamentary Network of Friendship Groups of Catalonia. While no firm date was mentioned, everything suggests that Torra will make the trip next week.

"In Slovenia, unfortunately, there is much more interest in what is happening in Catalonia among civil society than in the government, and that is something that is also happening in other countries," said Vajgl.