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Spanish prosecutor calls for rebellion charges against Catalan leaders Spanish prosecutor calls for rebellion charges against Catalan leaders
(about 1 hour later)
Spain’s attorney general has asked for charges of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds to be brought against members of the deposed Catalan cabinet for their role in trying to create an independent state.Spain’s attorney general has asked for charges of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds to be brought against members of the deposed Catalan cabinet for their role in trying to create an independent state.
José Manuel Maza announced that he would ask the national court to bring the charges against senior members of Carles Puigdemont’s former administration. The supreme court would oversee possible action against the Catalan parliamentary authorities. José Manuel Maza announced on Monday that he would ask the national court to bring the charges against senior members of the administration of Carles Puigdemont, who was removed from his post as regional president by the Spanish government on Friday.
Reports suggest 14 former senior regional government figures are to face charges, including Puigdemont, his deputy, Oriol Junqueras, and the administration’s foreign minister, Raül Romeva.
The supreme court, meanwhile, will oversee possible action against the Catalan political authorities over the part they played in paving the way for last week’s parliamentary vote to declare independence.
Maza said the charges were being sought “because their actions over the past two years have produced an institutional crisis that culminated with the unilateral declaration of independence made with total contempt for our constitution on 27 October”.Maza said the charges were being sought “because their actions over the past two years have produced an institutional crisis that culminated with the unilateral declaration of independence made with total contempt for our constitution on 27 October”.
Under Spain’s legal system, his request will now go before the relevant judges for consideration. The independence leaders could be called to testify if charges are brought.Under Spain’s legal system, his request will now go before the relevant judges for consideration. The independence leaders could be called to testify if charges are brought.
The crime of rebellion carries a maximum sentence of 30 years’ imprisonment, while sedition carries a 15-year penalty. Misuse of public funds is punishable with a six-year jail term.The crime of rebellion carries a maximum sentence of 30 years’ imprisonment, while sedition carries a 15-year penalty. Misuse of public funds is punishable with a six-year jail term.
On Sunday, the Spanish government said Puigdemont could be jailed within the next two months over his part in the regional parliament’s unilateral declaration of independence. The wealthy north-eastern region has been under the direct control of Madrid since Friday, when the Spanish government took the unprecedented step of activating article 155 of the constitution, which allows it to take over Catalonia’s civil service, police, finances and public media.
Also on Sunday, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets of Barcelona to call for Spanish unity, two days after some Catalan MPs voted to declare independence and the Spanish government assumed control of the region. Spain’s prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, has also used the article to call snap elections in Catalonia to be held on 21 December.
Spain’s prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, has sacked Puigdemont and his government and called regional elections for 21 December. On Sunday, Spain’s foreign minister, Alfonso Dastis, said Puigdemont could “theoretically” run for re-election in the vote “if he is not put in jail at that time”.
On Monday Spanish control over Catalonia was being tested as politicians and civil servants returned to work amid uncertainty over whether they will accept direct rule imposed by the central government. Spain’s control over Catalonia was being tested on Monday as politicians and civil servants returned to work amid uncertainty over whether they would accept direct rule from Madrid.
Early in the day Puigdemont posted a picture on Instagram of the inside of the government palace, though it was not clear when the picture had been taken. Early in the day Puigdemont posted a picture on Instagram of the inside of the government palace, though it was not clear when it had been taken.
Despite speculation that he might try to enter the government palace in Barcelona, Puigdemont had not shown up by Monday lunchtime, leaving journalists and independence supporters waiting expectantly.
Reports suggested he had instead travelled to Brussels, where he was said to be preparing to make a statement.
Bon dia 😊Bon dia 😊
A post shared by Carles Puigdemont (@carlespuigdemont) on Oct 29, 2017 at 11:39pm PDTA post shared by Carles Puigdemont (@carlespuigdemont) on Oct 29, 2017 at 11:39pm PDT
More soon … Josep Rull, territory and sustainability minister in the Puigdemont administration, tweeted a picture of himself at his desk on Monday morning, writing: “In the office, carrying out the duties entrusted to us by the people of Catalonia.”
He left later on, saying he had gone to attend a party meeting but insisting the ousted government would continue with its agenda.
Carme Forcadell, the pro-independence speaker of the Catalan parliament, also went to work as usual.
Both Puigdemont and Junqueras have attacked the Spanish government’s response to the declaration.
Puigdemont has urged Catalans to resist “repression and threats, without ever abandoning, at any time, civic and peaceful conduct”, while Junqueras described Madrid’s reaction as a “coup d’état against Catalonia”.
The main civic group behind the pro-independence campaign has called for civil disobedience and given detailed instructions to the 200,000 or so Catalan civil servants on how they should behave.
However, several Spanish ministers said at the weekend they were convinced civil servants would obey orders and reminded them that those who did not could lose their jobs.
Spain’s interior ministry has named a new chief of the regional force, the Mossos d’Esquadra, and reminded all officers stationed in Catalonia that they have a duty to “obey orders, guarantee the rights of all, and fulfil the mandates” of both the Spanish constitution and the region’s statute.
On Monday, a spokesman for Junqueras’s Catalan Republican Left party (ERC) suggested it would take part in the December election.
ERC spokesman Sergi Sabrià told reporters: “We will find a way to participate on 21 December. [It] could be one more opportunity to consolidate the republic.”
According to a poll for El Mundo, the poll could be very close, with anti-independence parties winning 43.4% of the vote to pro-independence parties’ 42.5%.