Image copyright AFP Image caption Jordi Sanchez was jailed on sedition charges after October's independence referendum

Jailed Catalan activist Jordi Sanchez has dropped his bid to lead the region's government, paving the way for separatist parties to offer a new name.

The move comes after Spain's Supreme Court rejected his request to be freed to attend an investiture ceremony.

Mr Sanchez, 53, is being held on sedition charges following October's independence referendum, which was ruled illegal by the Spanish courts.

Separatist parties won a slim majority in regional elections in December.

The central government called that vote when it sacked the regional administration and imposed direct rule after the Catalan leaders at the time declared independence.

Mr Sanchez, the former leader of the pro-independence movement Catalan National Assembly, was nominated by separatist parties after the former regional president, Carles Puigdemont, abandoned his attempts to be reappointed.

Announcing Mr Sanchez's decision, Catalan parliamentary speaker Roger Torrent said he faced "repeated violation of his fundamental rights".

Mr Torrent said he would start talks to find a new candidate to lead the government.

One possible name is former Catalan government spokesman Jordi Turull, who is also under investigation over his role in the independence movement.

Image copyright AFP Image caption Jordi Turull could be presented as the next candidate for Catalonia's government

Twenty-eight Catalan politicians are being investigated by a Supreme Court judge for their role in the banned referendum and subsequent declaration of independence.

Mr Sanchez and three others remain in jail: former Catalan Vice-President Oriol Junqueras, ex-Interior Minister Joaquim Forn and grassroots separatist leader Jordi Cuixart.

Meanwhile, Mr Puigdemont remains in Belgium, fearing arrest if he returns.

This is Spain's biggest political crisis since democracy was restored to the country in 1975.</s>"I will propose to the chamber that Jordi Turull be candidate for president," Catalan parliament speaker Roger Torrent told reporters late Wednesday, just hours after Turull was summoned to appear in court on Friday. 



Turull, a former Catalan government spokesman, is under investigation over Catalonia's secession drive but remains free under bail. 



He is the third separatist candidate to be proposed followed failed bids to re-elect Catalonia's ousted president Carles Puigdemont and jailed pro-independence activists Jordi Sanchez, who withdrew earlier on Wednesday. 



"A huge honour. If parliament gives me its vote of confidence, I will work without rest for the progress and protection of the 7.5 million Catalans," Turull said on Twitter after he was officially nominated. 



A Supreme Court judge earlier on Wednesday summoned Turull and other Catalan separatist leaders under probe to appear in court on Friday to tell them exactly what they are charged with. 



According to a court document made public Wednesday, the judge will also decide whether or not to remand Turull and the others in custody. 



Even if Turull is elected Catalan president, if he is then judged and sentenced, he risks being disqualified from holding office and being forced to step down. 



Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's conservative government sacked the Catalan government, called early elections and took direct control of the region in October just hours after the Catalan parliament made a unilateral declaration of independence. 



It has vowed to resist any bid by the region to break away from Spain and called on Catalan separatist parties to appoint a candidate for president who does not face prosecution. 



Separatist parties won regional elections in December, retaining their absolute majority in parliament, but they have still not been able to form a government as their two candidates for the presidency proved problematic. 



As a result, Catalonia remains under direct rule from Madrid since October 27 when lawmakers declared independence.</s>Barcelona (AFP) - Catalonia's parliament is to hold a debate and vote Thursday on a new candidate for regional president, Jordi Turull, who risks being disqualified from holding office over his role in the region's separatist drive.

"I will propose to the chamber that Jordi Turull be candidate for president," Catalan parliament speaker Roger Torrent told reporters late Wednesday, just hours after Turull was summoned to appear in court on Friday.

Turull, a former Catalan government spokesman, is under investigation over Catalonia's secession drive but remains free under bail.

He is the third separatist candidate to be proposed followed failed bids to re-elect Catalonia's ousted president Carles Puigdemont and jailed pro-independence activists Jordi Sanchez, who withdrew earlier on Wednesday.

"A huge honour. If parliament gives me its vote of confidence, I will work without rest for the progress and protection of the 7.5 million Catalans," Turull said on Twitter after he was officially nominated.

A Supreme Court judge earlier on Wednesday summoned Turull and other Catalan separatist leaders under probe to appear in court on Friday to tell them exactly what they are charged with.

According to a court document made public Wednesday, the judge will also decide whether or not to remand Turull and the others in custody.

Even if Turull is elected Catalan president, if he is then judged and sentenced, he risks being disqualified from holding office and being forced to step down.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's conservative government sacked the Catalan government, called early elections and took direct control of the region in October just hours after the Catalan parliament made a unilateral declaration of independence.

It has vowed to resist any bid by the region to break away from Spain and called on Catalan separatist parties to appoint a candidate for president who does not face prosecution.

Separatist parties won regional elections in December, retaining their absolute majority in parliament, but they have still not been able to form a government as their two candidates for the presidency proved problematic.

As a result, Catalonia remains under direct rule from Madrid since October 27 when lawmakers declared independence.

Puigdemont, who was sacked by Madrid after the declaration of independence and left for Belgium where he lives in self-exile, was the first candidate to lead the region again.

But Spain's Constitutional Court ruled he could not be appointed remotely, and he will be arrested if he comes back to Spain.

So he proposed Sanchez, the former head of the influential pro-independence ANC civil society group who is in jail pending the probe into the independence drive.

But this too proved problematic as Supreme Court judges refused to release him for a parliamentary session that would officially appoint him president.

Turull's bid to be elected will need the support of the tiny far-left separatist CUP party which has four seats in the 135-seat Catalan parliament but the party has not yet decided what its position will be.

Its leaders will meet at 3:00 pm, just two hours before the debate and vote in the Catalan parliament is to begin to decide if they will back Turull.

Spain's King Felipe VI, who has spoken out forcefully against Catalonia's independence drive, would also have to sign Turull's nomination as president before it could become effective.</s>MADRID (Reuters) - Secessionist parties in Catalonia will put forward their third candidate to become the next regional president on Thursday, the speaker of the Catalan parliament said on Wednesday, though it remains unclear whether the latest bid will be successful.

The parties seeking a split from Spain will present Jordi Turull, a member of the previous regional administration, for a vote of confidence in the regional parliament on Thursday, the Catalan parliament speaker Roger Torrent said in a statement.

Catalonia has been in political limbo since December elections called by Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy in an attempt to derail an independence movement. The plan backfired as parties favouring a split with Spain won the election.

Madrid invoked special powers to take over the regional government after the Catalan administration declared independence in October. The wealthy, populous region has been ruled directly by Madrid ever since.

Former regional head Carles Puigdemont, who is in self-imposed exile in Brussels, and Jordi Sanchez, a leader of a prominent grassroots group who is in jail over his role in the illegal campaign to split from Spain, have both withdrawn their bids because they could not attend a swearing-in session.

The latest candidate, Turull, was briefly held in custody on charges of rebellion and sedition after his involvement in the independence push in October. He was released on bail after accepting the central government’s control over the region but still faces the prospect of a trial.

It is not clear whether Turull, who is free to attend parliamentary sessions and to be voted in, would be able to become the next president of the region because the central government has made it clear it would stop any candidate who has taken part to the secessionist drive.

Rajoy sacked the Catalan government and took control in October, hours after the Catalan parliament made a unilateral declaration of independence in a vote boycotted by the opposition and declared illegal by Spanish courts.

“I would recommend them to look forward and pick a clean candidate, who abides by the law,” Rajoy told Spanish lawmakers on Wednesday.

Turull and other secessionist leaders are due to appear before the Supreme Court on Friday for the opening of a new phase in the investigation which leads to a trial.</s>Madrid, March 22 (IANS) Jordi Sanchez on Wednesday officially renounced his candidacy to be the next leader of Spain’s Catalan region.

Sanchez, the leader of the separatist Catalan National Assembly and second in command in the Junts per Cat (JperC) electoral lists behind Carles Puigdemont in the December vote, has spent almost five months in jail outside of Madrid awaiting trial on charges of sedition.

Those charges relate to a pro-Catalan independence protest in Barcelona on September 20 last year and if found guilty he faces a prison sentence of 15 years, reports Xinhua.

Former Catalan leader Puigdemont withdrew his candidacy from his self-imposed exile in Belgium in order to avoid charges of sedition and rebellion levelled against him. Sanchez was chosen as his replacement.

Sanchez is reported to have told a judge in a court appearance on Monday in which he again requested bail that he was willing to renounce both his candidacy and his seat in the Catalan parliament in order for this to happen.

Catalan parliament speaker Roger Torrent said after Sanchez renounced his candidacy, that the decision was “the best service” he (Sanchez) could perform and an “act of generosity”.

Torrent announced the start of a third round of talks to try and form a government with former Catalan regional government spokesman Jordi Turull, a member of Puigdemont’s JperC party, who is expected to be named as the new candidate.

Turull is currently out of prison on bail as he too awaits trial on charges related to the Catalan independence process. He too could be banned from holding office in the near future.</s>Barcelona (AFP) - Jordi Sanchez, a separatist civic leader in jail over his alleged role in Catalonia's secession drive, has dropped his bid to lead the region, the Catalan parliamentary speaker said Wednesday.

"Faced with the repeated violation of his fundamental rights... the lawmaker Jordi Sanchez sent me a letter announcing he was renouncing his candidacy," Roger Torrent said in a televised statement.

This could ease a months-long political blockage in Catalonia, as it means separatist parties will designate a new candidate for the presidency of the region which has been under direct rule from Madrid since October 27 when lawmakers declared independence.

While separatist parties won subsequent regional elections in December, retaining their absolute majority in parliament, they have still not been able to form a government as their two candidates for the presidency proved problematic.

Catalonia's former president Carles Puigdemont, who was sacked by Madrid after the independence declaration and left for Belgium where he lives in self-exile, was their first candidate to lead the region again.

He faces arrest if he comes back to Spain, and eventually dropped his bid after the Constitutional Court ruled he could not be appointed remotely.

Puigdemont instead proposed Sanchez, the former head of the influential pro-independence ANC civil society group.

But this too proved problematic as Supreme Court judges refused to release him for a parliamentary session that would officially appoint him president.

In his statement, Torrent said he would start a new round of talks with parties in Catalonia to find a new candidate.

One name that has been raised is Jordi Turull, the former Catalan government spokesman who is also under investigation over the secession drive but remains free under bail.

Turull was third on the list of Puigdemont's "Together for Catalonia" list in December elections after the former regional president himself and Sanchez.

But this may also be a challenge, as a Supreme Court judge has summoned Turull and other Catalan separatist leaders under probe on Friday to tell them exactly what they are charged with.

According to a court document seen Wednesday by AFP, the judge will also decide whether or not to remand Turull and the others in custody.

If Turull is placed in custody, it will make his candidacy for the presidency difficult.</s>MADRID, March 21 (Reuters) - Secessionist parties in Catalonia will put forward their third candidate to become the next regional president on Thursday, the speaker of the Catalan parliament said on Wednesday, though it remains unclear whether the latest bid will be successful.

The parties seeking a split from Spain will present Jordi Turull, a member of the previous regional administration, for a vote of confidence in the regional parliament on Thursday, the Catalan parliament speaker Roger Torrent said in a statement.

Catalonia has been in political limbo since December elections called by Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy in an attempt to derail an independence movement. The plan backfired as parties favouring a split with Spain won the election.

Madrid invoked special powers to take over the regional government after the Catalan administration declared independence in October. The wealthy, populous region has been ruled directly by Madrid ever since.

Former regional head Carles Puigdemont, who is in self-imposed exile in Brussels, and Jordi Sanchez, a leader of a prominent grassroots group who is in jail over his role in the illegal campaign to split from Spain, have both withdrawn their bids because they could not attend a swearing-in session.

The latest candidate, Turull, was briefly held in custody on charges of rebellion and sedition after his involvement in the independence push in October. He was released on bail after accepting the central government's control over the region but still faces the prospect of a trial.

It is not clear whether Turull, who is free to attend parliamentary sessions and to be voted in, would be able to become the next president of the region because the central government has made it clear it would stop any candidate who has taken part to the secessionist drive.

Rajoy sacked the Catalan government and took control in October, hours after the Catalan parliament made a unilateral declaration of independence in a vote boycotted by the opposition and declared illegal by Spanish courts.

"I would recommend them to look forward and pick a clean candidate, who abides by the law," Rajoy told Spanish lawmakers on Wednesday.

Turull and other secessionist leaders are due to appear before the Supreme Court on Friday for the opening of a new phase in the investigation which leads to a trial. (Reporting by Julien Toyer and Sonya Dowsett Editing by Paul Day and Hugh Lawson)</s>Catalonia's parliament is to hold a debate and vote Thursday on a new candidate for regional president, Jordi Turull, who risks being disqualified from holding office over his role in the region's separatist drive.

"I will propose to the chamber that Jordi Turull be candidate for president," Catalan parliament speaker Roger Torrent told reporters late Wednesday, just hours after Turull was summoned to appear in court on Friday.

Turull, a former Catalan government spokesman, is under investigation over Catalonia's secession drive but remains free under bail.

He is the third separatist candidate to be proposed followed failed bids to re-elect Catalonia's ousted president Carles Puigdemont and jailed pro-independence activists Jordi Sanchez, who withdrew earlier on Wednesday.

"A huge honour. If parliament gives me its vote of confidence, I will work without rest for the progress and protection of the 7.5 million Catalans," Turull said on Twitter after he was officially nominated.

A Supreme Court judge earlier on Wednesday summoned Turull and other Catalan separatist leaders under probe to appear in court on Friday to tell them exactly what they are charged with.

According to a court document made public Wednesday, the judge will also decide whether or not to remand Turull and the others in custody.

Even if Turull is elected Catalan president, if he is then judged and sentenced, he risks being disqualified from holding office and being forced to step down.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's conservative government sacked the Catalan government, called early elections and took direct control of the region in October just hours after the Catalan parliament made a unilateral declaration of independence.

It has vowed to resist any bid by the region to break away from Spain and called on Catalan separatist parties to appoint a candidate for president who does not face prosecution.

Separatist parties won regional elections in December, retaining their absolute majority in parliament, but they have still not been able to form a government as their two candidates for the presidency proved problematic.

As a result, Catalonia remains under direct rule from Madrid since October 27 when lawmakers declared independence.

Puigdemont, who was sacked by Madrid after the declaration of independence and left for Belgium where he lives in self-exile, was the first candidate to lead the region again.

But Spain's Constitutional Court ruled he could not be appointed remotely, and he will be arrested if he comes back to Spain.

So he proposed Sanchez, the former head of the influential pro-independence ANC civil society group who is in jail pending the probe into the independence drive.

But this too proved problematic as Supreme Court judges refused to release him for a parliamentary session that would officially appoint him president.

Turull's bid to be elected will need the support of the tiny far-left separatist CUP party which has four seats in the 135-seat Catalan parliament but the party has not yet decided what its position will be.

Its leaders will meet at 3:00 pm, just two hours before the debate and vote in the Catalan parliament is to begin to decide if they will back Turull.

Spain's King Felipe VI, who has spoken out forcefully against Catalonia's independence drive, would also have to sign Turull's nomination as president before it could become effective.</s>Jordi Sanchez, a separatist civic leader in jail over his alleged role in Catalonia’s secession drive, has dropped his bid to lead the region, the Catalan parliamentary speaker said Wednesday.

“Faced with the repeated violation of his fundamental rights… the lawmaker Jordi Sanchez sent me a letter announcing he was renouncing his candidacy,” Roger Torrent said in a televised statement.

This could ease a months-long political blockage in Catalonia, as it means separatist parties will designate a new candidate for the presidency of the region which has been under direct rule from Madrid since October 27 when lawmakers declared independence.

While separatist parties won subsequent regional elections in December, retaining their absolute majority in parliament, they have still not been able to form a government as their two candidates for the presidency proved problematic.

Catalonia’s former president Carles Puigdemont, who was sacked by Madrid after the independence declaration and left for Belgium where he lives in self-exile, was their first candidate to lead the region again. But he eventually dropped his bid.

Puigdemont instead proposed Sanchez, the former head of the influential pro-independence ANC civil society group.

But this too proved problematic as Supreme Court judges refused to release him for a crucial parliamentary session that would officially appoint him president.

In his statement, Torrent said he would start a new round of talks with parties in Catalonia to find a new candidate.

One name that has been raised is Jordi Turull, the former Catalan government spokesman who is also under investigation over the secession drive, but is free.</s>Ivo Vajgl, MEP, ALDE, Slovenia, explains the decision of Catalonia Dialogue Platform to nominate Catalan political prisoners in Spain for Sakharov Prize 2018. Vajgl underlined significance of engaging in dialogue to resolve the argument respecting the fundamental freedoms and human rights.

Catalonia former vice-president Oriol Junqueras, ex-Interior minister Joaquim Forn, and activists Jordi Sànchez, Jordi Cuixart remain in prison. Twenty-eight Catalan politicians are being investigated by Spanish Supreme Court judge for their role in the referendum and subsequent declaration of independence. At present all four men are kept in harsh conditions in prison cells with possible charges of rebellion, sedition, and misuse of public funds for organising the referendum on independence of Catalonia.

The European Parliament supports human rights through the annual Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, established in 1988. The prize is awarded to individuals who have made an exceptional contribution to the fight for human rights across the globe, drawing attention to human rights violations as well as supporting the laureates and their cause.
Catalan activist Jordi Sànchez i Picanyol, imprisoned accused of sedition, drops his bid to lead the Catalan government.