Spain pardons jailed Catalan separatist leaders, PM calls it step to resolve conflict

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced the conditional pardons of nine Catalan separatist leaders on Tuesday, calling it a goodwill gesture and the first step towards resolving a bitter political conflict with the wealthy northeastern region.

The nine leaders were jailed for their role in the failed independence bid by Catalonia in 2017. The pardons are conditional and there is a ban on the leaders holding public office that will remain in place. As well, should any of them commit a serious crime during a fixed period of time, Sanchez said the pardon would be cancelled. According to reports, the pardons won't be published until Wednesday and the Supreme Court was unlikely to authorize the leaders' release before then.

But Sanchez is facing opposition to the move by some in the country, with public polls showing a majority of Spaniards - about 60 per cent - oppose the pardons, with some people concerned Catalonia could attempt another independence bid as a result and opposition leaders saying they would seek to reverse the pardons.

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