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Spanish Judge Allows Bail for Five Catalan Lawmakers 5 Catalonia Lawmakers Allowed Bail by Judge in Spain
(about 7 hours later)
MADRID — A judge who sits on Spain’s Supreme Court on Thursday granted bail to a handful of Catalan lawmakers awaiting trial on rebellion charges in contrast with the jailing last week of former members of the Catalan government.MADRID — A judge who sits on Spain’s Supreme Court on Thursday granted bail to a handful of Catalan lawmakers awaiting trial on rebellion charges in contrast with the jailing last week of former members of the Catalan government.
Judge Pablo Llarena set bail of €150,000, or about $175,000, for Carme Forcadell, who, as speaker of the Catalan Parliament, had read out Catalonia’s declaration of independence from Spain on Oct. 27, shortly before it was approved by separatist lawmakers.Judge Pablo Llarena set bail of €150,000, or about $175,000, for Carme Forcadell, who, as speaker of the Catalan Parliament, had read out Catalonia’s declaration of independence from Spain on Oct. 27, shortly before it was approved by separatist lawmakers.
Four other Catalan lawmakers were granted bail of €25,000, or about $29,000, while a sixth was freed on Thursday without bail.Four other Catalan lawmakers were granted bail of €25,000, or about $29,000, while a sixth was freed on Thursday without bail.
In his ruling, Judge Llarena said that the lawmakers were allowed to post bail because they had either agreed to leave politics or pledged to resume their political activities “within the constitutional framework.” After the judge’s ruling, Ms. Forcadell was taken to a Madrid jail around midnight on Thursday, but her lawyer told reporters that she was likely to post bail on Friday.In his ruling, Judge Llarena said that the lawmakers were allowed to post bail because they had either agreed to leave politics or pledged to resume their political activities “within the constitutional framework.” After the judge’s ruling, Ms. Forcadell was taken to a Madrid jail around midnight on Thursday, but her lawyer told reporters that she was likely to post bail on Friday.
Last month, Spain’s attorney general demanded that 20 Catalan politicians be prosecuted on charges ranging from rebellion and sedition to the misuse of public funds while organizing an independence referendum on Oct. 1 that had been declared illegal by the Spanish government and courts.Last month, Spain’s attorney general demanded that 20 Catalan politicians be prosecuted on charges ranging from rebellion and sedition to the misuse of public funds while organizing an independence referendum on Oct. 1 that had been declared illegal by the Spanish government and courts.
The legal proceedings against the main separatist politicians have been split between two courts because Ms. Forcadell and some of the other Catalan lawmakers continue to benefit from parliamentary immunity, which means that they must be brought before the Supreme Court rather than the National Court.The legal proceedings against the main separatist politicians have been split between two courts because Ms. Forcadell and some of the other Catalan lawmakers continue to benefit from parliamentary immunity, which means that they must be brought before the Supreme Court rather than the National Court.
Last week, however, a judge from the National Court ordered prison without bail for eight former members of the Catalan government. The judge only granted bail to one other politician, because he had resigned from the Catalan cabinet a day before the region’s declaration of independence.Last week, however, a judge from the National Court ordered prison without bail for eight former members of the Catalan government. The judge only granted bail to one other politician, because he had resigned from the Catalan cabinet a day before the region’s declaration of independence.
The jailing of Catalan politicians has become one of the main campaign issues before new regional elections scheduled for Dec. 21 by Spain’s prime minister, Mariano Rajoy. Mr. Rajoy’s government took administrative control of Catalonia, using emergency constitutional powers, shortly after the separatist lawmakers voted for independence. Mr. Rajoy ousted the entire regional government of Catalonia and also dissolved its Parliament.The jailing of Catalan politicians has become one of the main campaign issues before new regional elections scheduled for Dec. 21 by Spain’s prime minister, Mariano Rajoy. Mr. Rajoy’s government took administrative control of Catalonia, using emergency constitutional powers, shortly after the separatist lawmakers voted for independence. Mr. Rajoy ousted the entire regional government of Catalonia and also dissolved its Parliament.
As court proceedings continue in Madrid, the former leader of Catalonia, Carles Puigdemont, remains in Brussels with four members of his cabinet, awaiting a decision from a Belgian judge who is reviewing an international arrest warrant issued by the Spanish authorities.As court proceedings continue in Madrid, the former leader of Catalonia, Carles Puigdemont, remains in Brussels with four members of his cabinet, awaiting a decision from a Belgian judge who is reviewing an international arrest warrant issued by the Spanish authorities.
To justify his refusal to appear in court in Madrid, Mr. Puigdemont is claiming that Spain’s judiciary cannot guarantee a fair trial. In a Twitter message posted late Thursday, Mr. Puigdemont also lamented the fact that Ms. Forcadell was spending the night in jail “for allowing the democratic debate.”To justify his refusal to appear in court in Madrid, Mr. Puigdemont is claiming that Spain’s judiciary cannot guarantee a fair trial. In a Twitter message posted late Thursday, Mr. Puigdemont also lamented the fact that Ms. Forcadell was spending the night in jail “for allowing the democratic debate.”
In his ruling, the judge also ordered Ms. Forcadell to remain in Spain, after posting bail. Spain’s public prosecutor wants Ms. Forcadell to be sentenced for rebellion, along with the leaders of the former Catalan government. She played “a major part” in the different stages of Catalonia’s push toward secession, Judge Llarena wrote on Thursday, initially as leader of one of the largest citizens’ associations and then as the speaker of the Parliament.In his ruling, the judge also ordered Ms. Forcadell to remain in Spain, after posting bail. Spain’s public prosecutor wants Ms. Forcadell to be sentenced for rebellion, along with the leaders of the former Catalan government. She played “a major part” in the different stages of Catalonia’s push toward secession, Judge Llarena wrote on Thursday, initially as leader of one of the largest citizens’ associations and then as the speaker of the Parliament.