Esquerra campaigns outside leader’s prison

The two final campaign events for pro-independence party Esquerra Republicana (ERC) are being held with strong references to its incarcerated leader, Oriol Junqueras: the second will be held in Junqueras’ hometown. Beforehand, though the first of the day will take place much further: outside the prison where he’s being held, to campaign for his freedom.

Indeed, ERC has had run its campaign a little differently this year, due to party head, vice president Oriol Junqueras being behind bars. Held in the Estremera correctional facility in the Madrid region, the official was put in pre-trial detention pending charges of sedition, rebellion, and others, for his role in Catalonia’s push for independence. Inasmuch, he has been unable to participate in his party´s electoral campaign in person—so, his party is coming to him.

Around twenty candidates of the ERC ticket turned up at the prison gates as a show of solidarity and to protest against their colleague’s continued pre-emptive detention. Among them, the party’s secretary general Marta Rovira, president of Parliament Carme Forcadell, and deposed Foreign minister Raül Romeva. “Today is the last day of the campaign and the first one where we were able to be close to Oriol,” noted Rovira.