No Puigdemont as hearings begin

Catalan leader still absent as separatists arrive for grilling over independence move

CHEERED by supporters, Catalonia’s separatist leaders arrived in Madrid yesterday to be grilled and potentially charged in another day of high drama in Spain’s crisis over the region’s independence drive.

Notable by his absence, however, was dismissed Catalan president Carles Puigde- mont and four of his former ministers, who are in Belgium and refusing to come and potentially be locked up.

Puigdemont and 19 others involved in Catalonia’s rollercoaster secession push over recent weeks were to have been questioned by Spanish judges in separate hearings at the National Court and the Supreme Court in Madrid yesterday and today.

However, the Supreme Court said later yesterday it had adjourned until November 9 the hearings of the former members of Catalonia’s dissolved parliament at the request of their lawyers.

It was as yet unknown why their hearings were adjourned by the court, which deals with cases involving legislators.

In the National Court, which tries criminal cases, eight former Catalan government members were being questioned.

“You are not alone,” a group of about 30 people, mostly Catalan politicians, chanted while the former regional ministers, dismissed last week as Madrid sought to get a grip on the country’s worst crisis in decades, arrived at the court.

But illustrating how the situation has fired up emotions around the country of 45 million people – 7.5 million of them in Catalonia – about a dozen opponents of the sepa- ratists brandished red-and-yellow Spanish flags.

Puigdemont’s government organised an independence referendum on October 1, which heavy-handed Spanish police tried and failed to stop.

This was followed by a declaration of independence by the Catalan parliament on Friday last week.

Later that day, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s government dismissed the regional government and moved to impose direct rule on the wealthy region.

On Monday, Spain’s chief prosecutor said he was seeking charges of rebellion – punishable by up to 30 years behind bars – sedition and misuse of public funds against Puigdemont and 13 associates.

Those who turned up were to be questioned by National Court judge Carmen Lamela, who could then charge them and put them in preventive custody.

Puigdemont and the four others who failed to appear could face arrest warrants, even international ones.

Puigdemont’s lawyer has said he wants his client questioned in Belgium.

The Catalan parliament’s speaker and five parliamentary deputies are facing the same charges.

Puigdemont, 54, has dis- missed the accusations as politically motivated.

Catalans remain deeply divided about independence, polls indicate.

In addition, there are signs of growing divisions in the separatist camp, with many unhappy with Puigdemont and his handling of the situation.

Rajoy has called snap elections for December 21 to replace the Catalan parliament.

Puigdemont said he would respect the result – and appealed to Madrid to do the same.