THOUSANDS of right-wingers protested in Madrid today against possible plans by the Spanish government to issue pardons to a dozen Catalan separatist leaders who were convicted for their roles in the biggest challenge to the country’s unity in recent history.

The demonstration was organised by a right-wing group “in defence of the nation’s unity” at a central square that has become a symbol for far-right rallies, and right-wing opposition leaders joined the protest in Colon Square, which boasts one of the nation’s largest national flags.

Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has not announced pardons for the 12 political and civil society leaders who in October 2017 pushed ahead with a banned referendum on independence for the north-eastern region of Catalonia and then declared independence based on its results.

But he has defended the possible move as a way to bring Catalans and Spaniards closer together after the divisive convictions that put most of the Catalan leaders behind bars.