Six Catalan lawmakers testify in rebellion case
Deposed Catalan leader, four others still in Brussels.
MADRID — Six Catalan lawmakers testified before a Spanish judge Thursday over the central government’s claims that they ignored Constitutional Court orders by allowing an independence vote in the regional Parliament of Catalonia.
The Catalan parliament’s speaker, Carme Forcadell, was the first to be questioned by Supreme Court Judge Pablo Llarena and two prosecutors. She and five other members of the parliament’s governing body are being investigated on possible charges of rebellion, sedition and embezzlement.
Under Spanish law, the crimes are punishable by up to 30 years of imprisonment.
Prosecutors asked the judge to jail Forcadell and three of the lawmakers without bail, to set bail of $58,000 for another and to release the sixth while the investigation continues. Llarena was expected to issue a decision later Thursday.
The Oct. 27 vote in the Catalan Parliament over declaring Catalonia’s independence from Spain was boycotted by most opposition lawmakers. It passed 70-10 in the 135-seat legislative body.
Spain’s central authorities immediately seized control of the wealthy northeastern region, the first time in the four decades since Gen. Francisco Franco’s dictatorship ended that Madrid removed powers from any of the country’s 17 regions.
Spain dismissed the regional government, dissolved the parliament and called a new regional election for Dec. 21.
Forcadell, the parliament speaker, told prosecutors that the independence vote was merely “declarative and symbolic,” according to lawyers familiar with Thursday’s Supreme Court proceedings. Her testimony was designed to minimize liability if she is charged for having disobeyed orders from the Constitutional Court, the lawyers said.
The lawyers asked not to be named because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly about the court proceedings.
Catalonia’s deposed regional president, Carles Puigdemont, and four of his former Cabinet members fled to Brussels, where they are fighting Spanish arrest and extradition orders.
In a letter posted on social media Thursday, the five called on voters to support pro-secession parties in Catalonia’s upcoming regional election.
“It’s time to drive away from the (Catalan) institutions those who want to own them with a coup d’etat,” Puigdemont tweeted, referring to Spain’s decision to assume control of the region.