29.04.2019 - 15:18
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Actualització: 29.04.2019 - 17:18
Exiled president Carles Puigdemont, along with two of his former cabinet ministers, has been barred from standing in the European Parliament elections by Spain’s electoral authority. The Catalan independence figurehead has been listed as the top candidate for May’s vote by his Junts per Catalunya party, which also includes his colleagues Toni Comín and Clara Ponsatí.
However, unionists Ciutadans and the People’s Party objected to the trio running from Belgium, accusing them of being “state fugitives” and filed an appeal to the Spanish Electoral Board.
Inaudito. La Junta Electoral Central prohíbe que Puigdemont, Ponsatì y Comín sean candidatos a las elecciones europeas.
Es una cacicada antidemocrática. Sin fundamento jurídico.
Los jueces españoles han rechazado que sean extraditados a España y deben respetarse sus derechos. Mal pic.twitter.com/jq3MoYjBPP— Joaquín Urias (@jpurias) April 29, 2019
Flagrant violation
In a joint statement, the three candidates described the development as a “flagrant violation of the fundamental human right to stand in elections” and said they will contest the decision.
“This is more evidence of collusion between a judiciary that ought to be independent and certain members of the political system,” they added, referencing the ongoing Catalan trial in Madrid.
Junts per Catalunya is currently awaiting an explanation from the authority. It will have 48 hours to appeal the ruling, which came in the immediate aftermath of the Spanish general election.
