Cs says it's 'outrageous' for jailed and exiled leaders to try to cash in expenses
Inés Arrimadas argues that "those responsible for a coup d'état" cannot be allowed to get payments from parliament
The leader of the opposition in Catalonia, Inés Arrimadas, said on Monday that jailed and exiled MPs should not get any expenses from Parliament. The Ciutadans (Cs) leader described as "shameful" and "outrageous" a request put forward by pro-independence party Junts per Catalunya (JxCat) for their four MPs in prison and abroad to get travel expenses.
Parliament regulations foresee expenses payments for MPs that vary depending on how far from the chamber they live. However, the four MPS – jailed Jordi Sànchez, Jordi Turull, and Josep Rull- and exiled Carles Puigdemont, cannot attend parliament.
The first group of three cannot go to the chamber because the judge does not allow them to leave prison to attend plenary sessions. Puigdemont, meanwhile, cannot go because is currently in Germany fighting against extradition and would be immediately jailed if he was to go back to Catalonia. They all face up to 30 years in jail for their role during the independence referendum.
"They get an MP salary although they don't come to work, and they aren't even happy with that," said Inés Arrimadas. "They want us to pay them alleged travel expenses after staging a coup d'état, after fleeing justice!" she added. "It's enough," Arrimadas warned, saying her party would oppose the move, which will have to be discussed in the Parliament bureau.