Catalans protest in Mexico City

Dozens of Catalan citizens gathered today at the Angel of Independence in Mexico City to demand the freedom of ousted Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont and his ministers, as well as to demand the recognition of the autonomy of the now “independent” nation of Catalonia .

Mr. Puigdemont and his four ministers turned themselves in to the Belgian police earlier today after fleeing to Belgium, following the direct rule imposed last week by Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on Catalonia.

Holding the independent flag of Catalonia and banners reading: “Freedom to the Catalan political prisoners,” the protesters chanted: “Visca Catalunya!”.

Israel Gálvez, a citizen of this region present at the protest, asked the Mexican people to support them in these political times. He claimed that in the elections held on October 1, Catalonia decided to separate from Spain.

“The citizens defended with all their might the referendum despite the most violent police repression by the Spanish State since the times of General Franco.”

He added that Prime Minister Rajoy has “put a stop to our legitimate government, the one which was chosen by the people of Catalonia, he has dissolved our Parliament and has intervened our institutions.”

The Spanish government took this measure after the Catalan parliament proclaimed the independence of the region following a referendum the Spanish constitutional court declared illegal.

Carles Puigdemont and his four ministers (Meritxel Serret, Antoni Comín, Lluís Puig, and Clara Ponsatí) are wanted in Spain for charges including rebellion, sedition, and misuse of public funds.

Rajoy has called for "free, clean, and legal elections as soon as possible to restore democracy" in Catalonia, on December 21 .

am