Jailed civic leader asks to attend campaign events

Civic leader Jordi Sànchez, currently in prison for his role in the independence process, has asked the Supreme Court to allow him to take part in election campaign events. The former president of the Catalan National Assembly resigned his post to join Catalan president Carles Puigdemont on the Together for Catalonia ticket in the December 21 elections.

Sànchez’s defense lawyer made a formal request to the judge overseeing the case to authorize his client’s participation in campaign events and “if necessary” for him to attend accompanied by police officers. The request also asks that Sànchez be given access to the media from prison, including use of the internet.

Sànchez’s lawyer argues that his client must be allowed to take part in the election campaign “in conditions of maximum possible equality with the rest of the candidates.” Thus, the request includes the possibility of Sànchez taking part in any political debates to which he may be invited, as well as giving interviews to journalists.