Following the decision by Spanish judicial authorities to impose harsh prison sentences – in some cases up to 13 years – upon political leaders, members of Parliament and former members of the Regional Government of Catalonia, for their participation in holding the referendum on the self-determination of Catalonia that took place on October 1st 2017 and subsequent unilateral declaration of independence, PCP considers that:
- This decision is part of a strategy on the complex national issue in Spain that relies on coercion, repression and judicialisation, which does not contribute to finding a political solution, and further aggravates the problem;
- The national issue in Spain should be considered in terms of the historical complexity and the present-day reality of that Country. An issue that can only be fairly and adequately overcome within the framework of a political solution, respecting the will of the peoples of Spain and, therefore, the will of the Catalan people, and safeguarding the social rights and other democratic rights of peoples; a solution that necessarily implies the repeal of these convictions and consequent release of the prisoners;
- the instrumentalisation of national feelings, the escalation of fait accompli, the absence of a political solution cannot serve to hide the responsibility of all those who have promoted a policy with serious social consequences – for Spain and Catalonia – nor serve to promote reactionary values and Francoist fascist sectors, who for dozens of years oppressed the peoples of Spain.
