Catalan leaders testify in court

Six lawmakers questioned in separatist rebellion investigation

MADriD: Six Catalan lawmakers were testifying before a Spanish judge over claims that they ignored Constitutional Court orders and allowed an independence vote in Catalonia’s regional parliament.

The Catalan parliament’s speaker, Carme Forcadell, was the first to be questioned yesterday by Supreme Court judge Pablo Llarena and two prosecutors. Together with five other members of the parliament’s governing body, she faces possible charges of rebellion, sedition and embezzlement.

Under Spanish law, the crimes are punishable with up to 30 years of imprisonment. The judge is set to decide after questioning them if any preventive measures, including ordering them to be taken into custody, are to be applied while the investigation continues.

The Oct 27 independence declaration in the Catalan parliament was boycotted by most opposition lawmakers but held despite previous court rulings. It was passed by 70 votes to 10 in the 135-seat legislative body. Shortly after, Spain’s central authorities seized control of the wealthy northeastern region.

Spain removed the regional government, dissolved the parliament and called a new regional election for Dec 21. Catalonia’s deposed regional president, Carles Puigdemont, and four of his dismissed Cabinet members fled to Brussels, where they are fighting Spanish arrest and extradition orders. In a letter posted on social media yesterday, the five made a call for support for pro-secession parties in Catalonia’s upcoming regional election

“It’s time to drive away from the (Catalan) institutions those who want to own them with a coup d’etat,” Puigdemont tweeted.

Puigdemont, who is likely to run as the candidate for his centre-right PDeCAT party, says he went to Belgium to rally European support for the Catalan cause and that he’s not trying to evade justice.

Although no country has publicly sided with them so far, their presence in the Belgian capital is sowing divisions among politicians.

In the letter, the Cabinet criticized the European Union for turning a blind eye to the Catalan plight.

“The time that we spend behind Spanish bars or in exile won’t be in vain if we remain united in the defence of Catalonia and in denouncing the democratic decadence of Spain,” the letter said. — AP