Rebel Catalan ministers held behind bars as Spain seeks arrest of their leader

EIGHT deposed Catalan ministers were remanded in custody yesterday for declaring independence as prosecutors sought an arrest warrant for their leader.

The move prompted a fierce backlash and mass demonstrations were planned by separatists.

The eight sacked ministers were held pending possible charges of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds.

Former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont, who fled to Brussels this week, ignored a summons to attend the hearing in Madrid, along with four others.

Judge Carmen Lamela cited their absence when ruling the ministers posed a flight risk unless they were remanded in custody. She will now have to decide whether to issue a European arrest warrant for Mr Puigdemont, who has insisted he will remain in exile until given assurances about a fair trial. The charges could result in sentences of 30 years.

The ruling followed Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy’s decision last week to sack the Catalan regional government after it held an illegal independence referendum on October 1.

Barcelona’s mayor, Ada Calou, described Sacked cabinet members arrive at court yesterday the events as a ‘black day for Catalonia’. A pro-separatist group called a mass demonstration last night, calling the former ministers ‘political prisoners’.

One of the jailed ministers, Josep Rull, posted a Twitter message after the hearing saying he had been jailed for being ‘loyal to the ballot box’.

Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon said: ‘Regardless of opinion on Catalonia, the jailing of elected leaders is wrong and should be condemned by all democrats.’

Former Catalan president Artur Mas questioned why prosecutors had chosen to pursue the officials, adding: ‘The more fuel and wood you add to the fire, the bigger it becomes.’ Mr Rajoy has called local elections for 21 December.