Mr. Speaker, today, Spanish police arrested 13 top Catalan officials like common criminals. Imagine our government officials being thrown in jail just for carrying out Parliament's instructions. This is a serious denial of democracy, an abuse of power by an unfit Spanish government. The Government of Canada's silence on this matter is unacceptable.
The Catalans voted freely for a separatist government, and they want the same right to self-determination as any other nation. On behalf of the Bloc Québécois, I condemn Spain's undemocratic and repressive actions, and I proclaim our support for the Catalan state in its democratic pursuit of independence.
Long live freedom. Long live democracy.
[Member spoke in Catalan as follows:]
Visca Catalunya!