MEPs across political spectrum condemn Spain for having 'political prisoners'

Spain’s imprisonment of Catalan vice-president Oriol Junqueras, and seven other elected ministers, as well as pro-independence civil leaders Jordi Sànchez and Jordi Cuixart, has been condemned as “unacceptable” by MEPs from across the political spectrum speaking to the Catalan News Agency (ACN).

MEP of the European People’s Party (EPP), and former Slovenian minister of agriculture, Franc Bogovic stated “it is unacceptable that political leaders are in jail.”

“The solution must be in the political sphere, not in prison,” he said, recalling that Junqueras and the other imprisoned Catalan ministers had taken “political actions.” The December 21 elections “will not be normal” if they remain behind bars, he added.

Imprisonment of ministers is 'unfortunate,' Socialist MEP

Spain’s imprisonment of the Catalan officials has been called “unfortunate” by Portuguese Socialist MEP, Ana Gomes. “I hope they are released soon,” she said.

Despite differences between both parties, with regard to their standing on the political spectrum, common ground was found between some members when it came to the situation in Catalonia.

Although Spain’s decision to incarcerate members of the Catalan government, as well as the presidents of ANC and Òmnium Cultural, was not formally debated in the European parliament, members of the ranks of each major party criticized the decisions of Spain’s high court judges, demanding that the state adopt a new strategy.