Diplomatic tension between Spain and Belgium over letter supporting jailed leader

Diplomatic tensions rose between Spain and Belgium on Wednesday, when the Spanish authorities complained to the Belgian ambassador in Madrid over a letter of support for jailed former Catalan Parliament president, Carme Forcadell, from the President of the Flemish Parliament, Jean Peumans.

The Spanish foreign affairs ministry contacted the representative of the Belgian government in Spain, Marc Calcoen, to ask for an explanation of Peumans' letter, which states that "it is totally unacceptable for there to be politicians detained for their opinions."

Belgian reaction

"We have been contacted by the foreign affairs ministry about this letter," was all a Belgian foreign affairs spokesperson would disclose, with the spokesperson pointing out that Belgian-Spanish relations were the responsibility of the federal government, and that Peumans letter "is a matter for the Parliament president."