Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez pardons politicians and activists jailed for 2017 secession referendum.
Catalonia
![Although their jail sentences have been dropped, all nine individuals are banned from holding public office [Albert Gea/Reuters]](/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/2021-06-23T111255Z_772360153_RC2A6O9LDCRF_RTRMADP_3_SPAIN-POLITICS-CATALONIA-PRISON-2.jpg?resize=570%2C380)
Nine secessionists imprisoned for their part in failed 2017 independence bid leave jail after Madrid waives sentences.
![The pardons lift the remaining years of the nine individuals' prison terms', but do not overturn their ban on holding public office [File: Emilio Naranjo/Pool via Reuters]](/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/2021-06-21T125504Z_382554420_RC2M789ZEXNZ_RTRMADP_3_SPAIN-POLITICS-CATALONIA.jpg?resize=570%2C380)
Madrid says controversial move aimed at diffusing years-long political crisis, but some dismiss pardons as a stunt.
![Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has called for trust and understanding [File:AFP]](/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/000_9BK2NT.jpg?resize=570%2C380)
Right-wing opposition accuses leftist PM of caving in to pressure from separatist parties, which back the government.
The arrest of a famous rapper is yet another sign of increasingly shrinking spaces for free expression in Spain.
![Riot police fire tear gas as supporters of jailed Catalan rapper Pablo Hasel protest in Barcelona. [Albert Gea/Reuters]](/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/2021-02-20T192638Z_205901492_RC2JWL9QKI6X_RTRMADP_3_SPAIN-RIGHTS-RAPPER-PROTESTS.jpg?resize=270%2C180)
Police clash with protesters in Spain on the fifth night of protests against the jailing of rapper Pablo Hasel.
Several thousand took to the streets in Barcelona and elsewhere to protest against the arrest of rapper Pablo Hasel.
![Catalonia's MP Marta Rovira of the pro-independence party ERC speaks with Catalonia's MP Xavier Garcia Albiol of the PPC at the Parliament of Catalonia on January 17, 2018, in Barcelona, Spain. [File: David Ramos/Getty Images]](/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/025415150a454229852efa252c4b8386_18.jpeg?resize=270%2C180)
Survey shows Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya party will win 36-38 seats; centre-right Junts per Catalunya at 30-33.
![The vote could see a high level of abstentions as Spain battles a third wave of COVID-19 infections [Nacho Doce/Reuters]](/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/2021-02-14T104658Z_541641692_RC2ASL9X02A5_RTRMADP_3_HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS-SPAIN-CATALONIA.jpg?resize=270%2C180)
Vote could signal appeal of Catalan secessionists and the political trajectory of the pro-independence movement.
![A man holding an independence flag is seen through the smoke thrown by demonstrators during the Catalan National Day in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2019 [AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti]](/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/131e353825dd45b6b02fdd15134aedd8_18.jpeg?resize=270%2C180)
The latest far-fetched accusation Spain directed at Catalan independence leaders involves Russia and backroom deals.
![[Yves Herman/Reuters]](/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/0e1b7435e0b14a4088d60a10158ddbc6_18.jpeg?resize=270%2C180)
The court rejects enforcing the European arrest warrant for former Catalan culture minister, Lluis Puig.
![Roger Torrent, speaker of Catalonia's regional parliament, is one of the claimants [File: Jean-Francois Badias/AP]](/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/799919995e8146abbab916cdc17cb6f1_18.jpeg?resize=270%2C180)
Two Catalan politicians sue the former head of Spain’s intelligence agency and an Israeli technology firm over spyware
![Torrent accused the Spanish government of being either complicit or negligent in the phone-tapping [Pau Barrena/AFP]](/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/dff134c3e26b4010b921ede2b82a19f4_18.jpeg?resize=270%2C180)
WhatsApp tells Roger Torrent his phone had been broken into with an Israeli spyware, prompting him to raise alarm.
![Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Catalan regional leader Quim Torra talk in Barcelona [File: Albert Gea/Reuters]](/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/aace9deebfa64f1997b7435d6b95d2a2_18.jpeg?resize=270%2C180)
No expectation of a breakthrough, but experts say the fact the discussions are happening is encouraging.