The president of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani, has replied to the complaints by Carles Puigdemont and Toni Comín regarding the veto imposed on them by the Spanish State. After the two Catalan MEPs made their unanswered complaint letters to Tajani public yesterday, today the European leader put the ball back in Spain's court, saying that the awarding of MEP credentials corresponds to the authorities of each member state.
Tajani's cabinet told the Catalan news agency ACN, the president has replied to the complaints by Puigdemont and Comin in a formal letter sent today. Sources with knowledge of the contents of this missive explained that Tajani argued that he can only act within the legal framework. Therefore, he is basing his position on decisions already issued by the Spanish Central Electoral Commission and Spanish authorities.
The two candidates from the Lliures per Europa list complained to Tajani on different occasions of "irregularities" by the Spanish State in determining whether they could take their mandate.
Carles Puigdemont and Toni Comín had accused the State of "evading" their responsibility in "refusing" to reply to the letters which they made public. In one of the letters, dated 24th June, both Catalan MEPs-elect demanded from Tajani that he "adopt all necessary measures as a matter of urgency to guarantee" their "privileges and immunities" as elected MEPs. "If we do not receive a reply by the 25th of June, we will understand that you have refused to uphold our immunity".