VIDEO | Comin: “With the amnesty the peaceful struggle for the independence of Catalonia resumes”

"It's a day we've been waiting for for 7 years, the fight for the independence of Catalonia doesn't stop": the words of MEP Toni Comin

ROME – “The amnesty law for Catalan independence activists makes us all happy, it’s a day we’ve been waiting for for 7 years. Personally, I’m emotional because I too have been in exile in Belgium for seven years President Puigdemont. It’s tough in the 21st century. But nowabout 400 people will benefit from the cancellation of crimesand this is good for their families and also for Spanish democracy: we have forced the Madrid government to make a correction” . Toni Comin, MEP and vice-president of the independence movement Consell for the Catalan Republic, declared this to the Dire agency, on the sidelines of the meeting ‘Europe and self-determination of peoples – Between the rule of law and security policies’, organized by the Casetta Rossa association, in ‘VIII municipality of Rome, which was also attended by Massimiliano Smeriglio, MEP of the Greens and Left Alliance (Avs).

READ ALSO: Amnesty for Catalan independence activists is law in Spain

In 2017 Comin was deputy to the president of Catalonia Carles Puigdemont, who called the referendum for the Spanish region’s independence from Madrid. This led to the unilateral proclamation of the secession of Catalonia, when the arrest warrant was issued which forced various politicians to flee abroad. A trial against the independentists also produced several convictions. After an agreement between Prime Minister Sanchez’s PSOE and the Catalan parties, Congress today approved a law that cancels the crimes committed by independence activists since 2011.

Comin continues: “Spain has implemented extremely harsh repression, which has triggered a criminal and constitutional battle. But in 21st century Europe it makes no sense, it is incompatible with democracy and the state by right and for this reason we have forced the government to correct” this behavior. Comin then highlights the benefit of a “collective solution”. Now, the politician assures, “the fight for the independence of Catalonia does not stop: our objective remains self-determination, a right that Spain and Europe must recognize and respect. Today the repression phase ends so we can return to focusing on this peaceful battle”.

The government of Prime Minister Sanchez recognized the State of Palestine on May 28th. Is this a positive sign for Catalonia too? “We support the two-state solution, we condemned the Hamas attack on October 7 and we support the ceasefire in Gaza. But we pointed out the hypocrisy of the Spanish government which did not recognize Kosovo , and did not use the concept of self-determination either with Western Sahara or with the Kurds, or with Catalonia or the Basques. Why this double standard?” asks the politician, who concludes: “As a candidate in the next European elections, I remember that the United Nations Charter recognizes the right to self-determination, which binds Europe. We therefore believe that the EU must have a mediating role with those States that do not want to recognize and respect this right”.