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The Spanish government's delegation in Catalonia, with Enric Millo still as its acting head, has authorized Catalan president Quim Torra to use the special Authorities Lounge at Barcelona El Prat airport, on Monday. Torra is traveling to Madrid to visit the Catalan government ministers jailed in Estremera Prison.

Two weeks ago, the new president visited all the Catalan political prisoners in the three Madrid penitentiaries, but the Spanish government delegation denied him the use of the Authorities Lounge. Torra had been sworn in three days previously in an act to which no representative of the Spanish state had been invited.

Never before had the Spanish government delegation prevented a Catalan president from using the space reserved for authorities and dignitaries at El Prat. Millo argued that the president had not communicated the journey in accordance with the regulations. According to the rules, the lounge is made available if the reason for the travel is explained and if the journey is official.

However, according to sources in the Spanish government delegation, for Monday's flight, the Catalan president asked for the Authorities Lounge and was authorized to use it "without any problems", because he followed the rules - that is, he sent the request in the official way and communicated the reason for the journey as required.

The use of the lounge enables authorities and dignitaries to avoid the airport's security checks. Users are able to wait in the space until the moment of boarding, when they are driven by car to the airplane entry stairs.

The president intends to enter Estremera Prison in Madrid at 11am on Monday to visit vice president Oriol Junqueras and the jailed ministers Jordi Turull, Josep Rull, Quim Forn and Raül Romeva.