Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from Catalonia have been prevented from taking part in the European Parliament Assembly. The affected MEPs include Carles Puigdemont, Toni Comin and Oriol Junqueras.
Catalonia vs Spain
Catalonia is an autonomous community in Spain under the central government of the country. Spain practices a decentralized government, with each autonomous community having its own government. The Generalitat de Catalunya is the Government of Catalonia and it consists of the president, parliament and executive council.
In 2017, the Catalonia Parliament declared its independence from Spain, sparking a political crisis. The declaration was turned down by the Spanish government and several pro-independence leaders are currently facing trial for their alleged role in the secession attempt.
The MEPs
Carles Puigdemont was the president of the Government of Catalonia from January 2016 to October 2017. Following the Catalan declaration of independence, the Spanish government dissolved the community’s parliament. In the snap election that held on December 2017, he was voted as a member of the Catalonia Parliament but was suspended in July 2018 by the Spanish government. He has been living in exile in Belgium since 2017.
Toni Comin was Catalonia’s Counselor of Health prior to his removal in 2017 for participating in the Catalan declaration of Independence. He fled Spain to Belgium in 2017.
Oriol Junqueras was the vice president of the government of Catalonia from January 2016 to October 2017. He has been imprisoned in Spain following the failed secession attempt.
Why Have They Been Sidelined?
Spain’s Minister of Justice, Dolores Delgado, explained the reason for the exclusion. “The Spanish electoral law provides that, in order to be declared elected and collect the act of deputy of the European Parliament, the elected candidate must declare his or her loyalty to the Spanish Constitution and he or she has to do that in person, in Madrid.”
Both Puigdemont and Comin are currently living outside Spain and could face criminal charges upon their return. Junqueras is currently in detention in Madrid but, the Minister of Justice has noted that he could be authorised to leave prison for his accreditation if the Supreme Court decides.
Reactions
At the inaugural session of the EU’s ninth parliament held on July 2nd, there was a protest against the three empty seats at the parliament.
Alfred Bosch, Catalan’s foreign minister wrote in an opinion piece for the guardian how the exclusion of the MEPs denies the rights of legitimate European citizens.
