Jailed Catalan leaders ask court to free them

THREE backers of Catalonia’s independence have sought to secure release from jail for their role in the region’s push to break from Spain which triggered the country’s worst political crisis in decades.

Former Catalan interior minister Joaquim Forn, Jordi Sanchez, a member of the pro-independence National Catalan Assembly civic group, and Catalan activist Jordi Cuixart made their case for release to a Supreme Court judge.

A ruling from judge Pablo Llarena was not expected yesterday.

Mr Forn was one of several regional ministers jailed on provisional charges of rebellion after the Catalan parliament unilaterally – and unsuccessfully – declared the region’s independence on October 27.

The move prompted the Spanish government in Madrid to dissolve the regional parliament and call fresh elections that were held last month.

Mr Sanchez and Mr Forn were elected on independence party tickets in that ballot, which took place amid political turmoil in the wealthy north-eastern region.

Mr Sanchez and Mr Cuixart had previously been jailed on provisional sedition charges related to pr epar at ions f or an October 1 independence referendum in Catalonia which the Constitutional Court had said could not go ahead.

The tumult is showing no sign of letting up before the newly-elected Catalan parliament’s first session next Wednesday.

A major question mark hangs over whether Carles Puigdemont, who fled to Belgium to avoid arrest for his part in the secession bid, will return to Barcelona to take office as regional president

He risks being detained if he comes back, as do four other ex-ministers who fled with him.