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Fifty-five elected representatives from Flanders have written an open letter to Mariano Rajoy on the Catalonia issue, appealing for a "constructive" approach, and saying that as citizens of "a pluri-national country" like Belgium, they are very familiar with "the challenge of political diversity and aspirations for autonomy".

They appeal for serenity and dialogue but do not hesitate to give the Spanish PM a short list of clear demands on Catalonia: prime minister Rajoy is asked to search for "a political solution" to the crisis, "to respect" the results of last December's Catalan elections, to restore Catalonia's suspended self-government, and finally, to drop the charges against all politicians and activists detained due to their involvement with the independence process.   

The signatories serve in four different assemblies - the Belgian Federal Parliament, the  Flemish and Brussels assemblies and the European Parliament - a total of 55 representatives, including three members of the Belgian Senate. MPs from five parties signed the letter, particularly the Flemish nationalist party N-VA, but also the Greens (Groen), the right-wing Vlaams Belang, Socialists (sp.a) and Christian democrats (CD&V). Signatories include the speaker of the Flemish Parliament, Jan Peumans, and the deputy speaker of the Belgian Senate, Karl Vanlouwe.

Their open letter to Mariano Rajoy, dated 28th March, transmits their "deep concern" about the political crisis in Catalonia and how the Spanish government is responding, using a strategy which, they warn, "can only lead to further escalation".

Political solution

"The responsibility for resolving the crisis is held by heads of government like yourself", say the signees to the head of the Spanish executive. "The key to a political problem can only be through a political solution", they say, adding that "only dialogue and mutual respect offer a way out" of the crisis.

The Flemish representatives "solidly" condemned the supression of Catalan self-government as well as the persecution of democratically-elected politicians chosen to exercise their mandate in Catalonia".

"Violence against one's own citizens in a democracy is shameful", they emphasise.

In this context, they appeal first to "serenity" and "the constructive search for a common agreement", noting that, as representatives of "a multinational country" like Belgium, they are very familiar with "the challenge of political diversity and aspirations for autonomy".

Respecting the Catalan election result

For this reason, they ask the head of the Spanish executive "to respect" the results of the Catalan election held on 21st December and allow the chosen representatives to form a new government "in a constructive way and without obstacles", as well withdrawing "article 155 of the Spanish Constitution to return Catalaonia's self-government", and cancelling "all charges against activists and political opponents" detained or indicted for "their political activities or participation in peaceful activities in favour of greater autonomy".

"As a member of the European Union, Spain must follow fundamental values and rules, such as respect for human rights, freedom of expression, freedom of association and the right of self-determination of peoples," highlights the letter, which has been sponsored by deputies and members of the group of the Flemish-Catalan Friendship Group (Vlacat).