Francesc-Marc Álvaro (ERC) takes a Catalan flag to Congress to denounce police aggression against a minor in Elche

The ERC deputy in Congress Francesc-Marc Álvaro wore a tie with the Barça colors and took out an estelada (Catalan independence flag) in the interior commission to denounce the actions of the National Police in Elche, where a minor was subjected to police aggression for carrying this flag. In this commission, the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, was appearing due to the crisis in Ceuta, and Álvaro took the opportunity to denounce the attack on the fan boy during the run-up to the Barça match."Do you think this flag [the estelada] is a weapon of mass destruction or a prohibited item that should be seized?", the deputy and journalist asked Marlaska. Álvaro demanded explanations from the Interior Ministry and argued that if we are talking about a democratic state, such actions should be inadmissible. "I regret, Mr. Marlaska, that UIP forces were rough and beat a 17-year-old boy and arrested him with absolutely excessive police brutality", Álvaro insisted, while from the commission's table they asked him to refer to the Ceuta issue, which was the focus of the minister's appearance. There is currently an internal investigation within the National Police to determine if the officers acted with proportionality.

In his response, the minister stated that a "possible disproportionate use of force in Elche, if the internal investigation concludes so, does not define the National Police or the Civil Guard". "This minister does not like any lack of proportionality", he assured in response to deputies Francesc-Marc Álvaro and Jon Iñarritu, from Bildu. According to Marlaska, both police forces base their actions on "respectful compliance with the legal order" and the "guarantee of fundamental rights".

For her part, Junts deputy Marta Madrenas urged Marlaska to order all State police forces not to confiscate esteladas: "Give this instruction, because, if you don't, you will no longer be able to hide behind the claim that it is an individual action". Junts has requested that the minister forward the police aggression of last Sunday to the Prosecutor's Office.