Sánchez defends Spanish judiciary in Strasbourg ahead of Catalan trial

Spain is a "modern and advanced democracy," says president Pedro Sánchez

Spanish president Pedro Sánchez (left) and the president of the European Court of Human Rights, Guido Raimondi (by Natàlia Segura)
Spanish president Pedro Sánchez (left) and the president of the European Court of Human Rights, Guido Raimondi (by Natàlia Segura) / ACN

ACN | Strasbourg

February 7, 2019 07:11 PM

Spain is a "modern and advanced" democracy, Spanish president Pedro Sánchez assured the Council of Europe (CoE) in Strasbourg on Thursday.

Addressing the international organization, Sánchez added that Spain is a democracy that "upholds the rule of law and where the protection of human rights is not in doubt."

In his speech, the Spanish president also insisted that Spain is a state that respects the separation of powers, the independence of the judiciary and civil liberties.

Sánchez was addressing the CoE's ambassadors' committee a week before the trial of Catalan pro-independence leaders begins in Spain's Supreme Court.

Sánchez also met with the president of the European Court of Human Rights, Guido Raimondi—the first time that a Spanish president holds an official meeting with the head of the international court.

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