The presiding officer of the Parliament of Mercosur, a South American trade bloc, Daniel Caggiani, says he has "great concern" about the violation of "basic and political rights" in Catalonia. Speaking to news agency ACN, Caggiani said that "political differences" have to resolved "democratically by voting", as takes place in "strong and serious democratic systems".
After meeting in Montevideo with the Catalan foreign minister, Alfred Bosch, and labour minister, Chakir El Homrani, the Parliament's presiding officer denounced the "violation of the political rights" of Carles Puigdemont, Oriol Junqueras and Toni Comín in not being able to take their seats as MEPs.
"Without a doubt, any situation of disdain for civil and political rights against a parliamentarian will find, on the part of the Parliament of Mercosur, a bond of solidarity," he said. He added that he supports "making [our] voices heard" on such situations "wherever necessary".
Caggiani, a member of Uruguay's left-wing Movimiento de Participación Popular, part of the ruling Frente Amplio coalition, called for the relevant parties to "look for paths to understanding" to "resolve the political circumstances in a democratic way, as appropriate for any democratic system".
Bosch said that such comments "make progress" and "help with finding a solution" to the situation and that "things are considered with more objectivity from a distance". After a week in Uruguay, foreign affairs ministry celebrated the "complicity" he has met with in the country.