Catalan separatists jailed as warrant sought for Carles Puigdemont

Catalan separatists were jailed for their ill-fated declaration of independence last week as prosecutors sought an arrest warrant for their deposed leader after he defiantly remained in self-imposed exile.

A group of officials from the ousted administration who submitted to Madrid’s authority was incarcerated because of flight risk. They included ousted Vice-President Oriol Junqueras.

President Carles Puigdemont chose not to return from Brussels and earlier condemned what he called a “political trial” with disproportionate penalties usually reserved for murder or terrorism. All face up to 30 years in prison for sedition and rebellion.

With the dispute now shifting to the Spanish judiciary, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy needs to manage his victory over the rebel region without making political martyrs of the Catalans.