Spain’s PM says nine jailed Catalan separatist leaders will be pardoned
Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez said his government would pardon the nine jailed leaders of Catalonia's failed 2017 independence bid yesterday as a first step towards ending the political conflict over the wealthy region.
As he spoke in Barcelona's opera house, several hundred separatists protested outside, demanding still more concessions, and one member of the audience interrupted him for a few seconds shouting "Independence".
"I am convinced that getting these nine people out of prison ... is a clear message of concord," Mr Sanchez said at the event in the region's main city attended by around 300 members of Catalan civil society.
"Catalonia, Catalans we love you," Mr Sanchez said in Catalan at the end of his address, with the Spanish, Catalan and EU flags behind him.
Polls show about 60 per cent of Spaniards are against freeing the politicians sentenced for their role in an unauthorised independence referendum and a short-lived declaration of independence. Madrid responded at the time by imposing direct control over the region in 2017-18.
But Mr Sanchez is betting the time has now come for a political gamble that he hopes will ultimately cement his legacy, weaken the independence push and resolve the country's biggest political crisis in decades.
"We don't expect that those seeking independence will change their ideals, but we expect (they) understand there is no path outside the law," Mr Sanchez said at the event.
The cabinet was meeting last night when it was expected to rubber stamp the pardons, which should lead to the separatists' release from jail a few days later.
Mr Sanchez aims to ease tensions in the northeastern region and kick-start negotiations between the central government and Catalan authorities.
"To reach an agreement someone must make the first step. The Spanish government will make that first step now," he said. The social cost of keeping the conflict simmering was too high, he added.
Thousands opposed to the move called for Mr Sanchez's resignation earlier this month during a protest in Madrid, supported by the three Spanish opposition parties, from the political centre to the farright.
Catalonia's separatist head of government Pere Aragones said last week the pardons would be a welcome first gesture to start a dialogue but considered them insufficient, demanded an amnesty for all those involved in the 2017 events, which could benefit around 3,000 people.
The court convicted all the members of Catalonia's former government who had not fled Spain, as well as two political activists and the speaker of the regional parliament.
Oriol Junqueras, 52, is the most prominent of the jailed leaders and received the longest sentence – 13 years over sedition and misuse of public funds. He was banned from holding public office for the duration of his sentence.
The others in line for a pardon are Raul Romeva. Jordi Turull, Dolors Bassa, Carme Forcadell, Joaquim Forn, Josep Rull, Jordi Sanchez, Jordi Cuixart, Santi Vila, Meritxell Borras and Carles Mundo.