Around 50 Flemish politicians have demanded that Spain “drop all charges against” Catalan pro-independence leaders, in what they called the “persecution of democratically elected politicians.”

In a letter to the Spanish president Mariano Rajoy, a group of MPs of the Belgian and Flemish parliaments denounced the suspension of autonomy in Catalonia through the application of Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution. "We strongly condemn the suppression of Catalan self-government," the letter reads.

The politicians, mostly from the Flemish nationalist party N-VA, but also including greens and socialists, expressed their “concern” over the Catalan crisis. In the letter, they called on the Spanish government to respect “fundamental values” such as “human rights, freedom of expression, freedom of association, and people’s self-determination.”

“Only dialogue and mutual respect offer a way out,” the Flemish politicians said, pointing out that the “responsibility” to solve the crisis “lies with the heads of government,” such as Rajoy.

They also called on the Spanish government to respect the results of the December 21 election, called by Rajoy’s administration after the sacking of the Catalan government.