Spain’s Supreme Court is hearing a bail application for eight former ministers of Catalonia’s regional government detained over its independence bid.
The eight were remanded in custody last month over fears they could attempt to abscond, after former President Carles Puigdemont fled to Belgium.
They are accused of rebellion and sedition over the region’s illegal declaration of independence. Rebellion is considered one of the most serious crimes in Spain, carrying a jail term of up to 30 years.
The court is also hearing applications from two independence activists.
After an attempt by Catalan separatists to declare independence in October, Spain imposed direct rule on the region and called early regional elections for 21 December.
Lawyers for the ministers say they are asking to be released on bail, on condition that they accept the rule of law from Madrid and will pledge not to flee.
Privately, senior sources in the Spanish government say they would like to see the ministers released and allow them to campaign in the elections.
They fear a martyr effect from their continued imprisonment, that could serve to galvanise support for pro-independence parties.
Antonio López-Istúriz White, a member of the European Parliament from Spain’s ruling People’s Party, has said there should be no problem in securing the ministers’ release if they promise not to flee.
He said: “If there is a clear statement by them that they want to go by the law and they want to run in the next elections on 21 December – legal elections, which have been called in all of Catalonia – then there’s nothing to fear.”
