Disqualification of the President of Catalonia

That this House notes its great concern at the decision of the Spanish Supreme Court to remove the President of Catalonia, Quim Torra, from office by banning him from holding public posts; notes that that decision was taken because banners calling for support of the rights of Catalan political prisoners were displayed on government buildings and were not taken down immediately when the court ruled they must be taken down; believes that this case centres on the fundamental right to free speech and that the court’s verdict on this case is a severe blow to that right as well as to democracy; and calls on the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs to convey these concerns most strongly to the Spanish Government.