Spain to keep Catalonia official in jail
MADRID — Spain’s Supreme Court judges ruled Friday to keep Catalonia’s ousted vice president in jail while he is being investigated for rebellion and other charges stemming from the restive region’s drive for independence from Spain.
The judges said there was a risk that Oriol Junqueras might again commit crimes, as there was no sign that he intended to change his ways.
Junqueras was one of several members of Catalonia’s pro-secession regional cabinet who was fired and jailed on provisional charges after a declaration of independence on Oct. 27. Other members of the Catalonia government, including ex-leader Carles Puigdemont, are fugitives in Brussels.
Junqueras had hoped to be released to take part in Catalonia’s new parliament after a December election imposed by Spain in which secessionist parties won the most seats.
The Friday ruling raises the question of what Puigdemont and the other four elected Catalan lawmakers on the run will do now.
The pro-secession parties won 70 out of the regional parliament’s 135 seats, but with eight candidates either on the run or in jail in Spain, the parties risk not being able to form a government.
Puigdemont demands that he be re-elected president, but he is likely to be arrested and jailed if he returns to Spain.
Those in jail or on the run have the option of ceding their seats to others in their parties to ensure they keep a majority when parliament restarts Jan. 17.