After the decision of the prison surveillance judge to withdraw the third degree to the political prisoners who are in the prison of Lledoners was known this morning, the Government has assured that this fact "is not justice, but revenge", because the withdrawal of this “penitentiary right” occurs “due to who they are and what they represent”. This was stated by the Minister of the Presidency and the Government spokesperson, Meritxell Budó, during the press conference following the weekly meeting of the Executive Council, and she added that this decision “is very far from the speech we are hearing from the government of the State of Dialogue and Negotiation” because the Prosecutor’s Office“ is a hierarchical body that has no autonomy and depends on the Attorney General’s Office”.

Equitable Distribution of Vaccines

The Catalan Government has agreed on supporting the Vaccine Equity Declaration promoted by the World Health Organization (WHO), which calls on governments, pharmaceutical companies, regulatory agencies and world leaders to join forces to accelerate the equitable distribution of vaccines to all countries. The aim of this declaration is to accelerate the development and manufacture of COVID-19 vaccines and ensure fair and equitable access worldwide.

The Catalan Government fully shares the need to promote and achieve equitable distribution of vaccines, especially in pandemic situations such as the current one, since, as stated by the WHO, if vaccines are distributed equitably, the acute phase of the pandemic could be stopped and rebuilding societies and economies would be a possibility. Likewise, equitable global access to vaccination against COVID-19, which wiould protect health workers and people at higher risk, is the only way to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on public health and the economy.