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Relocation moving at a snail’s pace

Central government will not consider relocation of the Catalan prisoners until Llarena has ended investigations

After the spat and the contradictory criteria of the previous day between the investigating judge in the October 1 case, and Internal Affairs Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska over the responsibilities regarding the transfer of the prisoners from Estremera, Soto del Real and Alcalá Meco to Catalonia, the Spanish executive yesterday insisted that relocation is in the hands of Pablo Llarena. “It’s a matter of nuances,” said cabinet spokeswoman Isabel Celaá. Her insinuation is that Spain’s Penitentiary services will not become involved in the question until the judge has finalised his investigations, when Madrid will have no choice but to take matters in hand.

Celaá was unwilling to go further. The day before, the minister had expressed his position that dependent of the judge, he felt it logical for the prisoners to be moved to Catalan prisons. Llarena quickly responded that such a decision was up to central government.

The question involving the Catalans has now also become part of a wider issue involving the return of ETA members serving sentences outside the Basque Country. As ETA has now disbanded officially, there is little justification for the policy of dispersion which saw ETA prisoners all over Spain.

That issue could be brought out into the open sooner than later as Spain’s P.M Pedro Sánchez is about to begin a carefully timetabled round of talks with the presidents of Spain’s autonomous communities, including the Lehendakari Íñigo Urkullu who will certainly broach the issue of the prisoners before Sánchez sees Quim Torra in the Moncloa.

Celaá also confirmed that Madrid will not oppose the reestablishment of Catalonia’s embassies but will be vigilant of their activities.

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