IMPRISONED Catalan independence leader and MEP-elect Oriol Junqueras has said there is no longer any dispute that the Catalan conflict is a European issue involving human rights’ violations and a democratic conflict at the heart of the bloc.

Writing exclusively in The National, Junqueras said he is a MEP, as are his former president Carles Puigdemont and former minister Toni Comin. As such, he should have enjoyed parliamentary immunity and avoided being jailed for 13 years over the 2017 independence referendum.

The leader of the Republican Left of Catalonia said although there was support internationally for the Catalan cause, it needed Europe to intervene to defend democracy.

“The EU needs to take steps forward in finding a democratic mechanism that tackles the end of repression and the right of self-determination,” he said.

“This process is an opportunity for Europe to side with democracy and to fight against those forces that want to destroy it.

“European democrats need to know that the enemies of the pro-independence movement, represented by [Spain’s] far-right party Vox, are also enemies of Europe ... To stand for democracy in Catalonia is to stand for democracy in Europe and its survival.”

Junqueras, a former Catalan vice-president, said the Spanish justiciary “faced shame” when the European Court of Justice (ECJ) stated clearly that he, Puigdemont and Comin were elected Members of the European Parliament and were entitled to immunity from the time the results were declared.

READ MORE: European democrats must help us end the return to dark days of repression

However, his status had been vetoed by the “irregular activity” of Spain’s electoral board and the Spanish courts. He said he was sure that victory would come from European institutions, and made this plea: “For this reason, we make a call to all European democrats to help us make the most of the dialogue process between Catalonia and Spain that has started and to urge the end of the repression that transports us back to the darkest moments of European democracy.

“We also ask them to halt the request to waive our immunity that does not seek justice, but revenge. It is in your hands to avoid it.”

Junqueras added: “It was an enormous joy to see how my colleagues took up their seats in the chamber and I am convinced that I will be a MEP again, as I already was back in 2009, and we will hug each other soon in the European Parliament.”

His remarks came as Spain’s Supreme Court delivered a petition to the European Parliament calling for Piugdemont’s and Comin’s immunity as MEPs to be waived.

The process, which has been supported by Spanish Socialists in the European chamber, could take months.

It is now being studied by the parliament’s legal affairs committee.