The Catalan independence movement experienced both satisfaction and disappointment this week.
Disappointment from the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), which on Tuesday 28 May declared “inadmissible” the application against the decision of the Spanish Constitutional Court, which suspended the plenary session of the Parliament of the autonomous community of Catalonia on 9 October 2017 (see EUROPE 11880/1). The reason: the ECHR considers that the suspension was “necessary in a democratic society” and for the “maintenance of public safety and order and the protection of the rights and freedoms of others”.
Satisfaction from the statement by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, dated 27 May, calling for the immediate release of three Catalan political prisoners (Oriol Junqueras, Jordi Cuixart and Jordi Sànchez) with compensation for damages from the State.
Finally, both disappointment and satisfaction with the election of the former Catalan president and pro-independence activist, Carles Puigdemont, to the European Parliament. However, according to the national press, his election can only be validated after he has been sworn in personally before the Spanish Electoral Commission. But he would be immediately arrested if he returned to Spain. In addition, according to Spanish media reports quoting Mr Puigdemont, the European Parliament refused, on Wednesday 29 May, to accredit him as an MEP.
To consult the decision of the UN Working Group: https://bit.ly/2JGThdy
To consult the ECHR decision (in French): https://bit.ly/2HZQPvm. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)