EU slammed for silence on Catalonia

Europe’s silence at the jailing of sacked Catalan ministers has sparked outrage among the pro-independence movement.

Expressing their dismay, around 150 people gathered in Brussels on Friday night for a protest in front of the EU institutions.

For demonstrators, the separatist politicians placed in pre-trial custody are political prisoners.

And they deplore the lack of reaction from the EU and its members states.

“It’s shameful,” said one Portuguese protester.

“We are at the heart of Europe and there is silence. It shows the weakness of 21st century politicians who prefer to defend the interests of money and the interests of the state, instead of the interests of people.”

Ousted Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont remains the legitimate president, according to a Catalan woman we spoke to in the crowd.

“He should never have been sacked, and standing in the elections is a way of bringing back what should never have gone,” she said, referring to Puigdemont’s announcement that he is ready to stand in the snap poll called by the Spanish government in Catalonia on December 21.

Another Catalan woman reflected, with irony, that recent developments have strengthened resolve.

“When all this is over and Catalonia is independent, we will have to give an award to Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy for all he has done for the cause,” she said.

The protest was held as some European politicians also slammed the EU for its handling of the crisis.

Catalonia: Belgian MEP blasts 'disgraceful' EU for failing to react to democratic crisishttps://t.co/X6cShFMscd pic.twitter.com/siaQ7TmF7K

— Daily Express (@Daily_Express) 3 novembre 2017

Euronews correspondent in Brussels, Ana Lázaro, said:

“Just minutes before the demonstration started, Puigdemont announced that he’d be a candiate. This gave some hope to these protesters, angry at the imprisonments and the silence of Europe.”