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Carla Ponsati accuses Spain of illegal vendetta against Catalan nationalists Carla Ponsati accuses Spain of illegal vendetta against Catalan nationalists
(35 minutes later)
Carla Ponsati, the Catalan academic facing extradition to Spain, has accused the Spanish judiciary of pursuing an illegal vendetta against Catalan nationalists.Carla Ponsati, the Catalan academic facing extradition to Spain, has accused the Spanish judiciary of pursuing an illegal vendetta against Catalan nationalists.
Ponsati told a fringe meeting at the Scottish National party’s spring conference that last October’s referendum on Catalan independence was entirely legal, even if it had not been supported by the Spanish government in Madrid. Ponsati told a fringe meeting at the Scottish National party’s spring conference that last October’s referendum on Catalan independence was entirely legal, even if it had not been supported by the government in Madrid.
“It was the duty of the Catalan authorities, who had a mandate for the referendum, to organise a referendum. We were obliged to do it. Besides it was not illegal. We have done nothing illegal,” she said.“It was the duty of the Catalan authorities, who had a mandate for the referendum, to organise a referendum. We were obliged to do it. Besides it was not illegal. We have done nothing illegal,” she said.
“The Spanish authorities have manipulated the judiciary, have manipulated the reading of the law, have manipulated the facts and they’ve opened these charges which are totally, totally illegal themselves. What is illegal is what the judiciary is doing in Spain now. That is illegal.”“The Spanish authorities have manipulated the judiciary, have manipulated the reading of the law, have manipulated the facts and they’ve opened these charges which are totally, totally illegal themselves. What is illegal is what the judiciary is doing in Spain now. That is illegal.”
Ponsati, an economics professor at St Andrews University in Scotland, faces a four-week extradition hearing later this summer after the Spain authorities issued a European arrest warrant. Ponsati, an economics professor at St Andrews University in Scotland, faces a four-week extradition hearing later this summer after the Spanish authorities issued a European arrest warrant.
The Spanish courts accuse her of violent rebellion and of misuse of public funds in organising the referendum. The staging of the vote divided Catalonia: The authorities in Madrid insist it was illegal and unconstitutional – it was not authorised as required by Spain’s parliament. The Spanish courts accuse her of violent rebellion and of misuse of public funds in organising the referendum. The staging of the vote divided Catalonia, and Madrid insists it was illegal and unconstitutional because it was not authorised as required by Spain’s parliament.
Her lawyer, Aamer Anwar, says there is “not a scrap of evidence” to support those charges, which carry maximum sentences of 25 years and eight years in prison respectively. Other Catalan leaders, including the then president Carlos Puidgemont, are facing a similar extradition case in Germany. Ponsati’s lawyer, Aamer Anwar, says there is “not a scrap of evidence” to support the charges against her, which carry maximum sentences of 25 years and eight years in prison respectively. Other Catalan leaders, including the then president Carlos Puidgemont, face a similar extradition case in Germany.
He told the meeting that violent attacks by Spanish civil guards on voters at some polling stations on 1 October carried “shades of Franco”, and were reminiscent of the suppression of human rights during the regime of the fascist dictator Gen Francisco Franco, who ruled from 1936 to 1975. Anwar told the meeting that violent attacks by Spanish civil guards on voters at some polling stations on 1 October carried “shades of Franco”, and were reminiscent of the suppression of human rights during the regime of the fascist dictator who ruled from 1936 to 1975.
SNP activists and some parliamentarians have rallied to Ponsati’s cause. Her legal defence fund has reached £270,000 but Anwar has told her supporters she needs £500,000 to cover all her expected legal costs due to the complexity of the case. SNP activists and some Scottish MPs have rallied to Ponsati’s cause. Her legal defence fund has reached £270,000, but Anwar has told her supporters she needs £500,000 to cover all her expected legal costs given the complexity of the case.
Joanna Cherry, an SNP MP and QC, told the meeting that nine political and civic leaders who backed the referendum in October remained in prison, with 19 people due on trial in Madrid in August.Joanna Cherry, an SNP MP and QC, told the meeting that nine political and civic leaders who backed the referendum in October remained in prison, with 19 people due on trial in Madrid in August.
She and Anwar said the Ponsati and Puidgemont extradition cases had increased concerns some EU member states were abusing the European arrest warrant system, to pursue political opponents rather than criminals. These cases had also raised concerns about judicial independence. She and Anwar said the Ponsati and Puidgemont extradition cases had increased concerns that some EU member states were abusing the European arrest warrant system to pursue political opponents rather than criminals. The cases also raised concerns about judicial independence, they said.
St Andrews University has officially backed Ponsati, suggesting the extradition attempt against her is politically motivated. The Courier newspaper, based in Dundee, has reported that 10 or more academics at St Andrews including Spanish staff are unhappy it has done so and asked for its statement to be retracted.St Andrews University has officially backed Ponsati, suggesting the extradition attempt against her is politically motivated. The Courier newspaper, based in Dundee, has reported that 10 or more academics at St Andrews including Spanish staff are unhappy it has done so and asked for its statement to be retracted.
Much rests on whether the newly appointed Socialist-led government in Madrid, which came to power in part due to a deal with Catalan parties, starts talks with the Catalan authorities in Barcelona and agrees upon a political solution to the crisis. Much rests on whether the newly appointed Socialist-led government in Madrid, which came to power in part as a result of a deal with Catalan parties, starts talks with the Catalan authorities in Barcelona and agrees a political solution to the crisis.
Scottish National party (SNP)Scottish National party (SNP)
CataloniaCatalonia
SpainSpain
EuropeEurope
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