Catalan parliament speaker defends “freedom of expression” at Welsh parliament

Welsh parliament speaker denounces former Catalan speaker's imprisonment

Parliament speaker Roger Torrent with Welsh presiding officer Elin Jones on March 11, 2020 (Courtesy of Catalan parliament)
Parliament speaker Roger Torrent with Welsh presiding officer Elin Jones on March 11, 2020 (Courtesy of Catalan parliament) / ACN

ACN | Barcelona

March 11, 2020 06:22 PM

Catalan parliament speaker Roger Torrent has defended the "freedom of expression" of legislative chambers during his visit to the Welsh parliament, the National Assembly for Wales.

While meeting with the Welsh parliament speaker, presiding officer Elin Jones of Plaid Cymru, Torrent expressed his commitment to working together to "strengthen fundamental rights" and to prevent parliamentary "censorship."

Meanwhile, Jones denounced the imprisonment of former Catalan parliament speaker Carme Forcadell, who is serving an 11.5-year sentence for sedition for her role in the 2017 independence referendum.

Jones also expressed her solidarity with all of the "victims of repression" in Catalonia.

Torrent is also set with Welsh first minister Mark Drakeford during his visit.