Ousted Catalan leader summoned by judge to face charges in Madrid court
0 Carles Puigdemont with other members of his dismissed government address a press conference in Brussels yesterday A Spanish judge has summoned the ousted Catalan cabinet to appear this week in Madrid as part of an inquiry into its pushing ahead with an independence declaration.
The fired president Carles Puigdemont and five other former members of his cabinet are in Brussels seeking “freedom and safety”, Mr Puigdemont said yesterday. He said he would return home if there were “guarantees” of a fair judicial process.
Spain’s chief prosecutor is seeking charges of rebellion, sedition and embezzlement against Mr Puigdemont, his number two, Oriol Junqueras, and 12 other members of the ousted Catalan government before Spain’s National Court. Under Spanish law, the crimes can be punished with decades in prison.
Investigating judge Carmen Lamela said the group should appear in the National Court in Madrid tomorrow at 9am for interrogations that would last until Friday.
Earlier yesterday, Mr Puigdemont said he and his team will stay in Brussels and “continue our work, despite the limits imposed on us”.
The Spanish government has cracked down on Mr Puigdemont’s attempt to take Catalonia, a wealthy region of about 7.5 million people, out of Spain. The government has said Mr Puigdemont flouted the constitution by holding an independence referendum on 1 October.
The Catalan parliament approved a motion declaring independence last week, but the Spanish constitution states that Spain is “indivisible”.
Mr Puigdemont was flanked at yesterday’s news conference in Brussels by five of his ousted regional chiefs.
He said that he would accept the challenge of early regional elections which the Spanish government has called for 21 December “with all our strength” and that Catalan nationalists would take part in the vote.
That promise erased fears that secessionists might boycott the ballot in the hope of denying it legitimacy.
Mr Puigdemont walked into the Press Club building where the press conference was held past a few protesters with Spanish national flags and pro-unity signs, including ones that said Rule Of Law and Not In My Name. Long Live Spain.
In another setback for the separatists, the Constitutional Court in Madrid said yesterday it was suspending the Catalan parliament’s vote to declare independence from Spain while it studies its legality. The court has consistently ruled against any move toward Catalan secession.