Judge summons three jailed pro-independence leaders for January 11

The Spanish Supreme Court summoned three out of the four jailed pro-independence leaders for January 11, some weeks after December 21, making it very likely they stay in prison until after the election. On Thursday, the judge summoned the deposed Catalan Home Affairs minister, Joaquim Forn, along with the two civil leaders Jordi Sànchez and Jordi Cuixart. The deposed Catalan vice president, Oriol Junqueras, is the only official not to be called.

What’s more, the Supreme Court judge denied pro-independence jailed leader Jordi Sànchez permission to take part in the December 21 campaign. He is the number 2 candidate for Puigdemont’s candidacy, Together for Catalonia. Sànchez was the president of one of the main pro-independence organizations in Catalonia, the Catalan National Assembly (ANC), until he agreed to be part of Puigdemont's candidacy. From prison, he stepped down as ANC president.

Why are they in prison?

He and Jordi Cuixart were sent to pre-trial prison on October 16, after being charged of "sedition" for having promoted a rally outside the Catalan department while being raided on September 20. Joaquim Forn and Oriol Junqueras, along with six more Catalan deposed ministers, were also jailed on November 2, accused of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds, some days after the Catalan parliament declared independence. Six of them were released on December 4, but Junqueras and Forn are still held in custody.

Jailed candidates

While Sànchez and Forn are candidates for Together for Catalonia, Junqueras is the top candidate of Esquerra. Jordi Cuixart is not involved in the election and continues in prison as president of another pro-independence cultural Catalan organization, Òmnium Cultural.