Jailed leaders urge Puigdemont’s party to help Sánchez retain Spain’s government

Three Catalan independence leaders held behind bars have urged their party, led by president Quim Torra and his exiled predecessor Carles Puigdemont, to allow Pedro Sánchez to retain his office as the head of the Spanish government.

The letter was signed by former ministers Jordi Turull and Josep Rull, as well as activist turned politician Jordi Sànchez, who have spent up to 20 months in prison for their role in the 2017 independence bid.

The three politicians were elected as Spanish MPs in last April’s general election for the Junts per Catalunya (JxCat) party, but they were forced to step down as they face charges of rebellion and sedition in the Supreme Court.

Despite winning the most seats, Socialist Pedro Sánchez fell short of a majority to form a new government, and he is currently negotiating with other parties to obtain their votes in the presidential inauguration.

Pro-independence parties have long criticized the Socialist party and its leader for backing the suspension of Catalonia’s self-rule in the fall of 2017, when the Spanish government was led by conservative Mariano Rajoy. 

Yet, with right-wing parties adopting a tough approach on Catalonia, some voices in the independence camp claim that a Socialist government is better than the risk posed by a hung parliament and a snap election.