Prosecuting Catalan leaders ‘can only fuel’ independence

Prosecuting pro-independence leaders is counter-productive for Spain. At least this is what Catalan Liberal MEP, Ramon Tremosa, who is in favor of independence, argued in an interview with Catalan News. "I don't see what the ultimate reason is for the Spanish government to proceed like this; it can only fuel pro-independence wishes," he said. Tremosa, who is the ALDE group coordinator for Economic Affairs, added that in Brussels "nobody understands" the Spanish government strategy, which so far has sent former Catalan President Artur Mas to court, along with three of his ministers and most of the Parliament Bureau members, including the Parliamentary President Carme Forcadell.

Tremosa warned Spain against using a "repressive" strategy to stop independence in Catalonia. "If the Spanish government stops the October 1 referendum, we do not know how, it won't solve the Catalan problem. On the contrary, it will make it bigger," he said. The Catalan government is calling a referendum on independence for October 1 but it doesn't have the support of Madrid.

The ALDE MEP also said that talk about seizing pro-independence politicians' assets is "totally outside the democratic framework." "When we explain to MEPS that there might be a seizure of assets, their faces look totally shocked," said Tremosa. According to the MEP, if the Spanish government "behaves more like a dictatorship than a democracy," it will make recognition of Catalan independence "more likely".