EU top court rules Catalan separatist had immunity when jailed

The European Union's top court has ruled that Catalan separatist leader Oriol Junqueras had immunity as an MEP when he was jailed last October, and has prompted calls for his immediate release.

The European Court of Justice said that that the former deputy leader of Catalonia became an MEP from the moment the European election results were announced at the end of May, and that he thus "enjoys the immunity guaranteed by Article 9 of the Protocol".

It also said he has "the immunity as regards travel" which applies "while they are travelling to the place of meeting of the European Parliament, including to that first sitting".

Junqueras was sentenced to 13 years in jail alongside a number of other Catalan separatist leaders for organising the 2017 independence referendum, and the subsequent declaration of independence.

The pro-independence Esquerra Republicana party welcomed the ruling and called for his release.

Ignacio Gonzalez Vega of Judges for Democracy, a Spanish legal association, told Euronews Junqueras won’t necessarily be released as the ruling can’t be applied retroactively.