Exiled Spanish MEP-elect questions Metsola’s democratic legitimacy

4 months ago 16

Toni Comín, MEP-elect in exile of the Catalan separatist JxCat party, is questioning the democratic legitimacy of European Parliament President, Roberta Metsola, accusing her of being influenced by Spain’s Partido Popular (PP/EPP), after his seat was left vacant due to non-compliance with Spanish legal formalities, prompting him to file a complaint with the Court of Justice of the European Union.

The European Parliament decided this week to leave the member of the European Parliament (MEP) seat vacant for the time being, after the Catalan politician failed to comply with the formalities required by Spanish law, Euractiv’s partner EFE reported.

One of these crucial requirements is to abide by the Spanish Constitution (of 1978), something Comín has not done. Following this, the Spanish Central Electoral Board decided not to approve his appointment as a European legislator.

Puigdemont’s JxCat won 1 seat in the 9 June European elections.

“With what legitimacy is Mrs. Metsola asking for the confidence of the House (of the European Parliament)? The last politically relevant decision she will have taken before putting her candidacy to the vote (Tuesday 16 July) will be a decision that directly and clearly and openly harms European democracy. It is exactly the opposite of what she should be doing,” Comín told a press conference in Strasbourg on Monday 15 July.

“President Metsola is being held hostage by the Spanish Popular Party,” said Comín, Spanish media reported.

“We (Catalan separatists) had hoped that the European People’s Party would democratise the Spanish PP, but it has been the other way around, the undemocratic party has conditioned the EPP,” Comín lamented.

Comín, a leading member of the right-wing Catalan separatist party Together for Catalonia (JxCat), announced before the European elections, that his aim was to follow Puigdemont’s work in the parliament, working towards Catalonia’s future independence.

A controversial case

The MEP-elect has been on the run from Spanish justice – in Belgium – since 2017, as has Puigdemont (who currently lives in the south of France), for numerous illegal constitutional actions committed between 2011 and 2023, including the 2017 secessionist referendum in Catalonia.

Both politicians hope to benefit from the amnesty law passed by the Spanish parliament, which came into force in June 2024, to be able to return to Spain in principle without fear of arrest.

However, Comín cannot currently enjoy the privileges of being an MEP, including parliamentary immunity, which would prevent police from arresting him.

In an attempt to force the European Parliament to accept him as MEP, Comín recently filed a complaint with the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), although the European court has not yet ruled on this controversial case.

The Parliament reiterated that this is not a personal decision by Metsola, but that the European institution simply takes note of the list of MEPs sent by the Spanish authorities, and that it would review its decision once the CJEU issues its final ruling on this controversial case, that stems from the previous European legislature.

[Edited by Rajnish Singh]