“I will never stop denouncing the situation of jailed and exiled MPs,” says Parliament speaker

The Catalan parliament speaker, Roger Torrent, said that he will “never stop denouncing the situation of jailed and exiled MPs until they are at home.” Torrent vowed to “defend the rights of all MPs” in Parliament, including those who are in Brussels, as well as those who are in prison. “It is my duty to defend their rights,” he said.

This came a day after the Catalan parliament speaker denounced the existence of “political prisoners” in Spain at a speech to the Bar Association of Barcelona (ICAB). Yet his reference to “political prisoners” did not sit well with part of his audience of lawyers. In protest, some walked out and left the room.

Torrent noted that everyone must enjoy freedom of expression, including those who walked out and left the room. In addition, the Catalan parliament speaker urged lawyers to “defend rights and freedom”.