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Spanish prosecutor calls for rebellion charges against Catalan leaders Catalan leaders facing rebellion charges 'flee to Belgium'
(about 5 hours 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. Catalonia’s ousted president and several members of his deposed cabinet are reported to have fled to Belgium hours before Spain’s attorney general asked for charges of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds to be brought against them over their decision to declare independence last week.
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. Shortly after the possible charges were announced on Monday, Spanish media reported that Carles Puigdemont and five of his former ministers had driven to Marseilles and then caught a flight to Brussels. There was speculation they could be intending to set up a government in exile or claim asylum.
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. Spanish government officials said Puigdemont was in Brussels but a spokeswoman for his Catalan Democratic party (PDeCat) would not confirm his whereabouts.
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. However, in an apparent reference to Josep Tarradellas, the Catalan leader who lived in exile in Paris during the Franco dictatorship, she added: “We had presidents in this country who were not able to be here during Franco’s time and they were still the president of the Catalan government.”
Over the weekend, Belgium’s immigration minister suggested that Puigdemont could be offered asylum in the country. “It’s not unrealistic, looking at the current situation,” Theo Francken, a member of the Flemish separatist N-VA party, told the Flemish-language broadcaster VTM on Saturday.
“Looking at the repression by Madrid and the jail sentences that are being proposed, the question can be asked whether he still has the chance for an honest court hearing.”
However, Belgium’s prime minister, Charles Michel, later clarified that an asylum request from Puigdemont was “absolutely not on the agenda”. On Monday, Michel’s office declined to comment on rumours that the former Catalan president intended to seek asylum.
Last Friday, Spain’s prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, took the unprecedented step of using article 155 of the constitution to sack Puigdemont and his government and impose direct rule on Catalonia after the regional parliament voted to declare independence.
As well as taking control of the region’s civil service, police, finances and public media, Rajoy has used the article to call snap elections in Catalonia to be held on 21 December.
On Monday, Spain’s attorney general, José Manuel Maza, announced that he would ask the national court to bring the charges against 14 members of Puidgdemont’s administration for pushing ahead with independence in defiance of Spain’s constitution and constitutional court.
They include Puigdemont, his deputy, Oriol Junqueras, the administration’s foreign minister, Raül Romeva, and the government spokesman, Jordi Turull.
The supreme court, meanwhile, will investigate possible action against Carme Forcadell, the speaker of the Catalan parliament, and other parliamentary officials for the part they played in paving the way for the vote.
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 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.
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.
Spain’s prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, has also used the article to call snap elections in Catalonia to be held on 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”.
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 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
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.” Puigdemont and Junqueras have both attacked the Spanish government’s response to the declaration.
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”.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. Despite fears that many of Catalonia’s 200,000 civil servants would refuse to follow direct rule from Madrid, they returned to work on Monday.
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. However, Josep Rull, the territory and sustainability minister in Puigdemont’s ousted administration, briefly defied the Spanish government, tweeting a picture of himself at his desk on Monday morning and writing: “In the office, carrying out the duties entrusted to us by the people of Catalonia.”
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. He left later on, saying he had gone to attend a PDeCat meeting, but insisting the ousted government would continue with its agenda.
On Monday, a spokesman for Junqueras’s Catalan Republican Left party (ERC) suggested it would take part in the December election. Spain’s interior ministry has already 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 the Spanish constitution and the region’s statute.
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.” With regional polls less than eight weeks away, the two main parties in Puigdemont’s coalition said they intended to run in one way or another.
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%. A PDeCat spokeswoman said: “Mr Rajoy, we will see you at the ballot boxes,” while a spokesman for Junqueras’s Catalan Republican Left party said: “We will find a way to participate on 21 December. [It] could be one more opportunity to consolidate the republic.”
According to a recent poll for El Mundo, the elections could be very close, with anti-independence parties being supported by 43.4% , with pro-independence parties on 42.5%.