World

People’s Party: Spain Bars Ex-Catalan Head From Running in EU Parliamentary Vote

MADRID (Sputnik) - The Junta Electoral Central (JEC), Spain's election authority, has excluded three Catalan politicians, including former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont, from the lists for the upcoming elections to the European Parliament, Spanish People’s Party Secretary-General Teodoro Garcia Egea said on Monday.
Sputnik

"Puigdemont will not be able to run in the European [parliamentary] elections," Garcia Egea told a press conference in Madrid.

The politician noted that the request demanding Puigdemont's exclusion from the election list had been filed by his party.

READ MORE: Academic on Catalan Independence Future: No Possibility of Real Referendum

In addition to Puigdemont, Toni Comin and Clara Ponsati, who were also involved in the developments surrounding Catalonia's declaration of independence in 2017, were also excluded from the election list, he added.

Puigdemont to Run for Seat in EU Parliament - Junts per Catalunya Party
Elections to the European Parliament will be held in Spain on May 26.

On October 1, 2017, Catalonia held an independence referendum that resulted in over 90 percent of voters backing the region's autonomy. Madrid refused to recognize its results, but this did not preclude the Catalan parliament from declaring independence on October 27 of that year. This prompted the Spanish central government to dismiss the regional authorities and impose direct rule over Catalonia. When the new Catalan government led by President Quim Torra came to power in June, Madrid restored the region's autonomy.

READ MORE: Catalan Independence Supporters, Opponents Clashing in Barcelona — Reports

Puigdemont fled from Spain to Belgium in October 2017 to avoid rebellion and sedition charges after the referendum.

Discuss