Thousands of Catalans protest outside the European Parliament in Strasbourg

Over 10,000 Catalan demonstrators (Police estimated) protested outside the European Parliament in Strasbourg on July 2nd to denounce the fact that three elected Catalan separatist politicians would not be allowed to take part in the Parliament’s inaugural session.

The demonstrators erected a scene in front of the institution, and public transport can not reach the Parliament, whichwelcomed the 751 newly eleceted MEPs from the recent European elections held in May.

As Spain is blocking the three elected Catalan separatist MEPs from taking office, the parliament’s opening session is marked by their three empty seats. The three MEPs are Carles Puigdemont, the former head of the Catalan government and who now lives in exile in Belgium. His colleague Toni Comin, also residing in Belgium and separatist Oriol Junqueras.

“Where do our votes go if the people we vote in can not then go and perform their duties?” To the river?”, complained one protestor, pointing to the canal which flows next to the Parliament.