Catalan separatists trial draws near
Supreme Court concludes investigation and summons Catalan leaders in prison over illegal independency referendum last year
CATALAN politicians, who are remanded in prison over the independency crisis that led to the October 1 2017 illegal referendum, will soon be in the docks of the Supreme Court.
Penal judge Pablo Larena announced late last week that he has concluded his investigation and is ready to begin hearings against the 18 politicians who stand accused by the public prosecutor, the state legal office and far-rightwing party Vox.
The three accusing parties were given five days (starting on Friday) to present their accusations in written form and the sentences they demand. The public prosecutor and Vox have accused the defendants of rebellion against the state, while the state legal office is believed to be proposing a more lenient charge of sedition and misuse of public funds – in accordance with PM Pedro Sanchez and deputy-PM Carmen Calvo’s statements in Parliament last week.
Six face accusations of rebellion and misuse of public funds, namely: former regional vice-president and ERC party leader Oriol Junqueras; and former regional councillors under Carles Puigdemont’s deposed government: Forn, Rull, Turull, Romeva and Bassa.
Three face rebellion accusations: Jordi Cuixart and Jordi Sánchez (commonly known as ‘Los Jordis), and former regional parliament speaker Carme Forcadell.
Former councillors Borrás, Mundó and Vila are accused of disobedience against the state and misuse of public funds, while the remaining six (Corominas, Guinó, Simó, Nuet, Barrufet and Boya) are only accused of disobedience – the only charge that would not incur a prison sentence.
Regarding the penalties, the public prosecutor’s office recently stated that it would be requesting the maximum sentence (25 to 30 years) for rebellion for Oriol Junqueras, whom it considers the most responsible for the illegal referendum – even above former president Carles Puigdemont, who is still at large in Waterloo (Brussels).
Once the official accusations have been presented, Judge Larena will set a date for the hearing.
The outcome will be a key issue for Spain as Catalan nationalist parties ERC and PdCat have not only said its outcome will determine whether they support the 2019 budget presented by PSOE and Podemos, but have also threatened to ‘take action’ if they are not all acquitted.