International parliamentary delegation to observe Sunday’s referendum

A delegation of 33 international MPs are in Catalonia to observe in person how Sunday’s referendum develops. Represented by spokesman, former Slovenian foreign affairs minister, Dimitrij Rupel, the group is made up of politicians of all political stripes from 16 different European countries, and Israel. Many of the members in the group have expressed their concern over the current political situation in Catalonia, in particular potential violations of civil rights.

The group is in Catalonia at the invitation of Diplocat, the public-private consortium that promotes Catalonia abroad. In fact, in the run-up to Sunday’s vote, Diplocat has organized a series of meetings so that the observers can talk first hand with both supporters and detractors of the independence process and referendum.

On Friday, the group met Catalan parliamentary president, Carme Forcadell, in the morning, and then Catalan president Carles Puigdemont and foreign affairs minister Raül Romeva, along with representatives of civil society, in the afternoon. Among the people the MPs will meet on Saturday will be representatives of Catalonia’s political parties.