Spain: rally in Madrid against the pardon of Catalan separatists
This June 13, 2021 during the rally in Madrid against the pardon of Catalan separatists.
REUTERS - JAVIER BARBANCHO
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
This Sunday in Madrid takes place an important demonstration in place of Columbus against the pardon that the head of the socialist government Pedro Sanchez wants to grant soon to 12 Catalan separatist leaders, accused of "embezzlement
And "sedition" for having organized a unilateral self-determination referendum in October 2017. Among these 12, nine have been imprisoned for three and a half years in Lledoners prison, north of Barcelona.
Their sentences range from 9 to 13 years in prison.
This protest takes place at the call of Union 78, an anti-government citizen platform.
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With our correspondent in Madrid,
François Musseau
In spite of the strong heat, they are thousands around the place Christophe Colomb, the usual meeting place in Madrid of the Patriots and of the right.
On the rostrum, members of the citizen platform Union 78 rail against the release that is being prepared for “
Catalan delinquents
”.
Most of the demonstrators came with their families.
Many display Spanish blood and gold flags, sometimes of a large size.
"
I am against pardon,"
says Mercedes, secretary in a law firm.
These are people who broke the law, so it's unconstitutional to give it to them.
It is unconstitutional, so it cannot be done.
"
► To read also:
Spain: the right wind up against grace for the Catalan separatists
In and around Christopher Columbus Square, they all express the same opinion: there is no reason, no motive, to grant pardon to the 12 separatist leaders, and even less to the nine prisoners who among them must serve sentences ranging from up to 13 years old.
Juan is retired, he has moved with his two sons and with three grandsons, for whom it looks like a day of celebration: “
I am here to protest against the government, the worst that we have had in years in Spain.
They want to grant pardon to Catalan putschists and I do not agree with that.
"
A recent poll indicates that seven in ten Spaniards are opposed to pardon.
Pedro Sanchez knows that the measure he is about to announce is unpopular.
These demonstrators are convinced that he will take it to stay in power, with the support of moderate Catalan separatists.
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Spain
Pedro Sanchez
Catalonia