Pepe Mujica expresses solidarity with Catalan prisoners

Uruguay's ex-President of Uruguay Jose Mujica expressed his solidarity with the Catalan pro-independence activists who are imprisoned in Barcelona.

Uruguay's ex-President Jose Mujica expressed his solidarity with the Catalan pro-independence activists who are imprisoned in Barcelona.

During an online meeting with Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) leader Oriol Junqueras, Mujica sent his solidarity to all imprisoned politicians and reaffirmed his support for a negotiated solution for the Catalan cause.

Mujica told the Catalans that he is "very close to all those who are in jail for political reasons.”

Junqueras thanked his solidarity and recalled that the ERC has always viewed "with sympathy the causes for justice and freedom in Latin America."

Mujica stressed that political dialogue is the only way out when "times are tough," and offered his willingness to help in the dialogue between the Catalan and Spanish governments.

Background

In 2017, Catalan politicians organized a referendum in favor of the independence from Spain. While the population turned out en masse to vote in favor of independence, the Spanish authorities rejected the electoral process and its results.

As a result, nine Catalan leaders were tried and sentenced to 13 to 9 years in prison for sedition, among other charges.