Read in Catalan

A group of seven MEPs will go to the Madrid prison of Estremera this Tuesday to visit the Catalan vice-president and candidate for the presidency in the 21st December Catalan election, Oriol Junqueras, and Interior minister Joaquim Forn, and to Soto del Real prison to visit pro-independence leaders Jordi Sánchez and Jordi Cuixart. Some weeks ago, this same group reported "difficulties" for visiting them, as well as a total lack of "cooperation from the government in Madrid".

The delegation will comprise José Bové (Greens), Mark Demesmaeker (ECR), Jordi Solé (Greens), Josep-Maria Terricabras (Greens), Ramon Tremosa (ALDE), Marie-Pierre Vieu (GUE/NGL) and Tatjana Zdanoka (Greens), Solé's office announced in a statement. According to the note, these MEPs had "on several occasions" requested to visit, despite the "administration placing many bureaucratic obstacles to block it".

On 4th December, Pablo Llarena, a Supreme Court judge, released six Catalan ministers on bail, but kept the others in custody believing that their release could lead to them reoffending with serious consequences. Jordi Sànchez and Jordi Cuixart had been in prison longer than the ministers, for the alleged crime of sedition.