Former Italian PM demands “return to dialogue” between Catalonia and Spain

Former president of the European Commision and ex-prime minister of Italy Romano Prodi has called for a “return to dialogue” between Catalonia and Spain, expressing his concern about what is happening in the region.

Alongside other Italian politicians, including Piero Fassino and Bobo Craxi, Prodi signed a manifesto, warning that neither forcing parliamentary regulations nor imposing judicial and police measures are appropriate strategies to resolve "a controversy of a political nature."

“We request a return to the dialogue between the Spanish State and the Generalitat of Catalonia, based on political rationality, freedom of expression, and the consolidated principles of our European community,” the manifesto states.

On the same day as this appeal for democratic principles to be upheld, the Council of Public Diplomacy of Catalonia, or Diplocat, has sent a report to international political and media contacts, stating that Spain is “threatening civil rights in Catalonia."

The report warns that “European values and human rights, the freedom of speech, freedom of information and freedom of assembly are being violated by Spain sending police forces to search newspapers and printing companies; stopping and annulling political meetings; seizing referendum material; and threatening to imprison democratically-elected politicians."