Pro-independence party ERC's spokesperson in the Spanish Congress, Joan Tardà, has asked Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy to move the political prisoners closer to Catalonia. He made the request in the Congress today, calling it a "gesture of humanity", despite the "lesson" he believes the state is trying to give through the imprisonments. However, Rajoy has said that his executive cannot "interfere" in court or public prosecutor decisions. He also called on the pro-independence parties in Catalonia to form a government soon to be able to return to "normality" and "create a different climate" to that during the last years.
"They're in prison to teach hundreds of thousands of citizens a lesson. Jordi Cuixart's son has totalled 30,000 kilometres so his father can see him from behind a sheet of glass. Are you prepared to make a gesture for sincere dialogue, to move the prisoners [closer to Catalonia]?" asked Tardà.
"I will tell you completely frankly. The prime minister of Spain doesn't have to evaluate this matter, the executive doesn't have to interfere in decisions of the justice system, should they refer to me, to someone else, it's the rule of law" Rajoy answered.
"You can promote legislative changes, or lobby the attorney general. It's not appropriate to win in the courts what you didn't get at the ballot box. That is to distort fundamental rights. Judge Llarena argues rebellion [was committed] based on conjecture. I ask you for humanity," continued Tardà.
"We would have a very serious problem if I could do that [and interfere]", said Rajoy, "The decisions you took were very serious. They've had political consequences, like [article] 155 which I took to the Senate. It's not a problem of ideas. I believe at this time that the way to create a different atmosphere is to recover normality, the people are tired and want a government now, [one] which doesn't create problems with the justice system".