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| Catalan separatist leaders given lengthy prison sentences | Catalan separatist leaders given lengthy prison sentences |
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| Nine Catalan separatist leaders have been cleared of violent rebellion over their roles in the failed bid for regional independence two years ago but found guilty of the lesser crimes of sedition and misuse of public funds. | Nine Catalan separatist leaders have been cleared of violent rebellion over their roles in the failed bid for regional independence two years ago but found guilty of the lesser crimes of sedition and misuse of public funds. |
| The region’s former vice-president Oriol Junqueras was convicted of sedition and misuse of public funds by Spain’s supreme court, and sentenced to 13 years in prison. He was also banned from holding public office for 13 years. | The region’s former vice-president Oriol Junqueras was convicted of sedition and misuse of public funds by Spain’s supreme court, and sentenced to 13 years in prison. He was also banned from holding public office for 13 years. |
| What is the story of Catalan independence – and what happens next? | What is the story of Catalan independence – and what happens next? |
| The former Catalan foreign minister Raül Romeva was convicted of the same offence and sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment and handed a 12-year ban on holding office, as were the former regional government spokesman Jordi Turull and the former labour minister Dolors Bassa. | The former Catalan foreign minister Raül Romeva was convicted of the same offence and sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment and handed a 12-year ban on holding office, as were the former regional government spokesman Jordi Turull and the former labour minister Dolors Bassa. |
| Carme Forcadell, the former speaker of the Catalan parliament, was sentenced to 11 and a half years in prison, while the former Catalan interior minister Joaquim Forn and former territorial minister Josep Rull got 10 and a half years each. | Carme Forcadell, the former speaker of the Catalan parliament, was sentenced to 11 and a half years in prison, while the former Catalan interior minister Joaquim Forn and former territorial minister Josep Rull got 10 and a half years each. |
| Two influential pro-independence grassroots activists, Jordi Cuixart and Jordi Sànchez, were found guilty of sedition and given nine-year sentences. | Two influential pro-independence grassroots activists, Jordi Cuixart and Jordi Sànchez, were found guilty of sedition and given nine-year sentences. |
| Three other independence leaders were found guilty of disobedience and handed fines and bans on holding office. | Three other independence leaders were found guilty of disobedience and handed fines and bans on holding office. |
| The key figures in the push for Catalan independence | The key figures in the push for Catalan independence |
| Monday’s verdict, delivered by seven judges at Spain’s supreme court, came at the end of a landmark, four-month trial that heard from 422 witnesses and investigated the events that triggered the country’s worst political crisis since it returned to democracy following the death of General Franco. | Monday’s verdict, delivered by seven judges at Spain’s supreme court, came at the end of a landmark, four-month trial that heard from 422 witnesses and investigated the events that triggered the country’s worst political crisis since it returned to democracy following the death of General Franco. |
| Less than five hours after the verdict was announced, a judge reissued an international arrest warrant for the former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont. Puigdemont, who spearheaded the push for independence, fled into self-imposed exile in Belgium to avoid arrest by the Spanish authorities. The warrant said he was wanted for sedition and misuse of public funds. | |
| Junqueras responded to the sentence with a tweet urging people not to give up on Catalan independence. “We’ll return stronger and with even more belief than ever,” he wrote. “Thanks to everyone, keep fighting because we will keep fighting forever.” | Junqueras responded to the sentence with a tweet urging people not to give up on Catalan independence. “We’ll return stronger and with even more belief than ever,” he wrote. “Thanks to everyone, keep fighting because we will keep fighting forever.” |
| Jordi Sànchez, a regional MP and former president of the influential grassroots Catalan National Assembly, said his nine-year prison sentence would not dent his optimism nor his belief in an independent Catalonia. He also issued an implicit plea for calm. “Let’s express ourselves without fear and move forward, non-violently, towards freedom,” he tweeted. | Jordi Sànchez, a regional MP and former president of the influential grassroots Catalan National Assembly, said his nine-year prison sentence would not dent his optimism nor his belief in an independent Catalonia. He also issued an implicit plea for calm. “Let’s express ourselves without fear and move forward, non-violently, towards freedom,” he tweeted. |
| Despite the long sentences handed down by the supreme court on 14 October, some of the nine leaders convicted of sedition and misuse of public funds could soon be eligible to apply for “semi-liberty”, allowing them out of prison on a regular basis. | Despite the long sentences handed down by the supreme court on 14 October, some of the nine leaders convicted of sedition and misuse of public funds could soon be eligible to apply for “semi-liberty”, allowing them out of prison on a regular basis. |
| Josep María Tamarit, a professor of criminal law at the Open University of Catalonia, said that in cases where a sentence of five years or more was handed out, a court could stipulate “that half the sentence has to be served before prisoners are eligible for semi-liberty”. | Josep María Tamarit, a professor of criminal law at the Open University of Catalonia, said that in cases where a sentence of five years or more was handed out, a court could stipulate “that half the sentence has to be served before prisoners are eligible for semi-liberty”. |
| However, the supreme court turned down prosecutors’ request for such an order in the Catalan case. | However, the supreme court turned down prosecutors’ request for such an order in the Catalan case. |
| That means that Jordi Sànchez and Jordi Cuixart – who have now served two years in pre-trial detention – could apply to be allowed out on licence as soon as they have served a quarter of their sentences, which would be in January next year. | That means that Jordi Sànchez and Jordi Cuixart – who have now served two years in pre-trial detention – could apply to be allowed out on licence as soon as they have served a quarter of their sentences, which would be in January next year. |
| Oriol Junqueras, who received the longest sentence – 13 years – would have to wait about 15 months before applying. | Oriol Junqueras, who received the longest sentence – 13 years – would have to wait about 15 months before applying. |
| Those convicted can complain to Spain’s constitutional court and then put their case before the European court of human rights in Strasbourg. | Those convicted can complain to Spain’s constitutional court and then put their case before the European court of human rights in Strasbourg. |
| The Spanish government has the power to issue pardons if they are requested and if the person convicted shows repentance for their crime. However, such a move would have profound political consequences. | The Spanish government has the power to issue pardons if they are requested and if the person convicted shows repentance for their crime. However, such a move would have profound political consequences. |
| Opponents of Spain’s acting prime minister, the socialist leader Pedro Sánchez, would accused him of bowing before the separatists were his government to even consider a pardon. Sam Jones | Opponents of Spain’s acting prime minister, the socialist leader Pedro Sánchez, would accused him of bowing before the separatists were his government to even consider a pardon. Sam Jones |
| Spain’s acting prime minister, the socialist leader Pedro Sánchez, said his government respected the supreme court’s decision, which, he added, had met all the requirements of due process, transparency and separation of powers. He also said the government would work to guarantee public order in the coming days. | Spain’s acting prime minister, the socialist leader Pedro Sánchez, said his government respected the supreme court’s decision, which, he added, had met all the requirements of due process, transparency and separation of powers. He also said the government would work to guarantee public order in the coming days. |
| While the Catalan president, Quim Torra, urged an amnesty for those convicted, he insisted the sentences would not deflect his administration from pressing on with its quest for independence. | While the Catalan president, Quim Torra, urged an amnesty for those convicted, he insisted the sentences would not deflect his administration from pressing on with its quest for independence. |
| “Repression will never triumph over dialogue, democracy and self-determination,” he said. | “Repression will never triumph over dialogue, democracy and self-determination,” he said. |
| Police have been deployed to Catalonia’s biggest travel hubs, with a large number of officers patrolling Barcelona airport and the city’s Sants railway station to guard against any attempts at direct action in response to the sentences. Police were also gathering at Girona’s main railway station. | Police have been deployed to Catalonia’s biggest travel hubs, with a large number of officers patrolling Barcelona airport and the city’s Sants railway station to guard against any attempts at direct action in response to the sentences. Police were also gathering at Girona’s main railway station. |
| A demonstration was under way along one of Barcelona’s main thoroughfares, the Via Laietana, with protesters holding banners demanding the prisoners’ release. A small crowd also gathered at Plaça San Jaume, the seat of the Catalan government in Barcelona. | A demonstration was under way along one of Barcelona’s main thoroughfares, the Via Laietana, with protesters holding banners demanding the prisoners’ release. A small crowd also gathered at Plaça San Jaume, the seat of the Catalan government in Barcelona. |
| The Catalan association of local authorities, jointly with the association of local authorities for independence, have called on their members to suspend all activities for 72 hours. | The Catalan association of local authorities, jointly with the association of local authorities for independence, have called on their members to suspend all activities for 72 hours. |
| Nine of the 12 defendants had stood accused of rebellion, which carries a prison sentence of up to 25 years. | Nine of the 12 defendants had stood accused of rebellion, which carries a prison sentence of up to 25 years. |
| The case centred on the referendum on 1 October 2017, which was held in defiance of the then government of the conservative prime minister Mariano Rajoy, and of the country’s constitution, which is founded on the “indissoluble unity of the Spanish nation”. | The case centred on the referendum on 1 October 2017, which was held in defiance of the then government of the conservative prime minister Mariano Rajoy, and of the country’s constitution, which is founded on the “indissoluble unity of the Spanish nation”. |
| Also scrutinised were the events of 20 September 2017, when police raided Catalan regional government offices and arrested 14 senior officials in an attempt to head off the vote. | Also scrutinised were the events of 20 September 2017, when police raided Catalan regional government offices and arrested 14 senior officials in an attempt to head off the vote. |
| The raids brought thousands of Catalans out to protest. Guardia Civil officers found themselves trapped inside the buildings they were searching and three of their vehicles were vandalised. | The raids brought thousands of Catalans out to protest. Guardia Civil officers found themselves trapped inside the buildings they were searching and three of their vehicles were vandalised. |
| The state prosecutor, Javier Zaragoza, had argued such behaviour constituted “physical, compulsive and intimidatory violence”, adding: “The violent nature of an uprising does not mean there has to be either serious or armed violence.” | The state prosecutor, Javier Zaragoza, had argued such behaviour constituted “physical, compulsive and intimidatory violence”, adding: “The violent nature of an uprising does not mean there has to be either serious or armed violence.” |
| However, defence lawyers rejected such arguments, pointing out that under Spanish law, rebellion involves “revolting violently and publicly”. | However, defence lawyers rejected such arguments, pointing out that under Spanish law, rebellion involves “revolting violently and publicly”. |
| The lesser offence of sedition, meanwhile, is defined as “rising up publicly and tumultuously to prevent, through force or beyond legal means, the application of the law”. It carries a maximum prison sentence of 15 years. | The lesser offence of sedition, meanwhile, is defined as “rising up publicly and tumultuously to prevent, through force or beyond legal means, the application of the law”. It carries a maximum prison sentence of 15 years. |
| The offence of disobedience carries a fine and a ban from holding public office, but not a jail term. | The offence of disobedience carries a fine and a ban from holding public office, but not a jail term. |
| Rajoy reacted to the unilateral independence declaration by using the constitution to sack the secessionist Catalan government and assume control of the region. | Rajoy reacted to the unilateral independence declaration by using the constitution to sack the secessionist Catalan government and assume control of the region. |
| The defendants have already said they will appeal to the European court of human rights if necessary. | The defendants have already said they will appeal to the European court of human rights if necessary. |
| A spokeswoman for the European commission said it had no comment to make on the decisions of national courts, but added the commission respected the decisions of the Spanish judiciary. | A spokeswoman for the European commission said it had no comment to make on the decisions of national courts, but added the commission respected the decisions of the Spanish judiciary. |
| “Our position on this is well known and has not changed,” she said. “This is, and remains, an internal matter for Spain, which has to be dealt with in line with its constitutional order.” | “Our position on this is well known and has not changed,” she said. “This is, and remains, an internal matter for Spain, which has to be dealt with in line with its constitutional order.” |
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