Carles Puigdemont blames Europe for silence "in the face of violence"

Former Catalan President Carles Puigdemont said on Monday that the conviction of nine Catalan separatists to terms ranging from nine to 13 years in prison confirms a strategy of "repression" and "revenge" of the Spanish state. The sentence "also condemns more than two million people who made possible the self-determination referendum of 1 October 2017", declared illegal by the Spanish courts, he said at a press conference from Brussels. The Spanish Supreme Court on Monday morning sentenced nine Catalan independence leaders to sentences ranging from nine to 13 years in prison for Catalonia's secession attempt in 2017. Justice has also issued a new international arrest warrant against Carles Puigdemont , who fled to Belgium.

"The decision of the Supreme Court against members of the government, Parliament and the main social entities of Catalonia confirms the strategy of repression and revenge against all citizens who have sought the path of democracy to make their will, "said the former Catalan president at a press conference in Brussels.

The sentence "condemns the more than two million people who made the self-determination referendum possible on 1 October 2017", which was later declared illegal by the Spanish courts, Puigdemont added.

The pro-independence leader called for non-violent mobilization and insisted that the "regressive status quo" can not be accepted "as Catalans or as Europeans" and called for a "strong response" to decision taken in the November 10 general election.

"We need to mobilize and make our voices heard.There are many ways and all must be democratic and non-violent, as always … and turn the elections into a massive demonstration of rejection," said the former Catalan president.

Carles Puigdemont also questioned the attitude of Europe, which he accused of "silence" in the face of "violence", on the day of October 1, 2017, "against a people who went out to vote". "A Europe that dances to the Spanish state, which prevents representatives of more than two million European citizens from sitting in the European Parliament," he denounced.

The pro-independence leader insisted that this conviction confirmed Spain's "refusal to articulate a dialogue" and that, faced with this, "we must mobilize without fear".

Carles Puigdemont spoke in front of the press, without the journalists being able to ask him questions, since Brussels. The former president has indeed fled to Belgium in 2017 to escape the Spanish justice. The Spanish Supreme Court issued a new international and European arrest warrant against him on Monday.

Toni Comin, Lluis Puig and Meritxell Serret, former Catalan councilors who also fled to Belgium, were at his side during this press conference at the headquarters of the Catalan government delegation in Brussels.