'The possibility of being jailed exists,' says Catalan Minister of Foreign Affairs

Romeva says snap election isn’t “on the table” while Spanish government demands it in order not to suspend Catalonia’s self-government

The Catalan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Raül Romeva, in Brussels (by ACN)
The Catalan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Raül Romeva, in Brussels (by ACN) / ACN

ACN | Barcelona

October 18, 2017 02:28 PM

The Catalan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Raül Romeva, said that he isn’t ruling out the possibility that he, along with the Catalan president, Carles Puigdemont, might both be jailed. Speaking at the same international press conference in Brussels, Romeva highlighted that “the possibility exists,” and asked if it’s something the European Union could live with. “Our concern is that this could happen today in the European Union,” he said.    

Regarding Spain’s call for snap elections in order not to suspend Catalonia’s self-government, the Catalan Minister of Foreign Affairs stated that it isn’t “on the table” because “it’s not in the plans of the party.” "The program is clear. We went to the elections in 2015 and 1.9 million people voted for parties defending the right of Catalonia to be an independent state,” he added.

During his speech, Romeva also spoke of the imprisonment of the presidents of the Catalan National Assembly (ANC), Jordi Sànchez, and the Òmnium Cultural, Jordi Cuixart. The Catalan Minister of Foreign Affairs referred to both of them as "political prisoners."