The political conflict between Catalonia and Spain saw a spin-off in France this weekend, after 52 French MPs called on Madrid to end the “repression” against the pro-independence leaders in jail or in exile.

The MPs believe that denying them their freedom is “an attack against the fundamental freedoms and the exercise of democracy.”

“Respect for institutional norms is one thing, but we do not think that political debate should end in repression, with attacks on people's rights due to a sort of offense of opinion.”

Their op-ed in ‘Le Journal du Dimanche’ also reads: “These elected representatives have been imprisoned and exiled for their political decisions, for wanting to organize a demonstration, and they risk a verdict with harsh prison sentences.”