Government to 'defend' right of protest if strike coincides with independence trial

The government says it will defend the right to protest should the general strike mooted to coincide with the start of the trial of independence leaders go ahead on February 5.

Spokesperson Elsa Artadi said on Tuesday that the government will act as it does with any other stoppage or union protest by "defending the right to strike."

The government's response comes after a strike called by the minor pro-independence Intersindical-CSC union for February 5, 6 and 7.

"Obvious" session cannot go ahead, says CUP

Meanwhile, the far-left pro-independence CUP party said it was "obvious" that there would be no parliamentary session should the strike take place.

CUP spokesperson Carles Riera confirmed on Tuesday that his party fully supports the strike and he made a general call for others to follow suit.

Cs: Torra in court would be a "joke"

Yet, the main opposition party, the unionist Ciutadans (Cs), insisted that the government must attend the plenary session should the strike coincide with the start of the trial.

Cs spokesperson Carlos Carrizosa said on Tuesday that it would be a "joke" if president Quim Torra decides to attend the trial rather than appear in Parliament.

Socialist call strike "political"

It was a stance shared by the Catalan Socialist party (PSC), which also insisted that Torra attend next week's parliamentary session.

PSC spokesperson Eva Granados cast doubt on the Intersindical-CSC union's motives for calling the strike, saying that "it is obviously a political strike."