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| Catalan Separatist Leaders Get Lengthy Prison Terms for Sedition | Catalan Separatist Leaders Get Lengthy Prison Terms for Sedition |
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| MADRID — The Spanish Supreme Court on Monday sentenced former leaders of the Catalan independence movement to lengthy prison terms after finding them guilty of sedition for their botched attempt to break away from Spain in 2017. | MADRID — The Spanish Supreme Court on Monday sentenced former leaders of the Catalan independence movement to lengthy prison terms after finding them guilty of sedition for their botched attempt to break away from Spain in 2017. |
| The former deputy leader of Catalonia, Oriol Junqueras, received the toughest sentence: 13 years in prison. After the ruling, a Spanish judge issued a new European arrest warrant for Carles Puigdemont, the former leader of Catalonia, who has been living in self-imposed exile in Belgium, after fleeing to avoid prosecution in Spain. | The former deputy leader of Catalonia, Oriol Junqueras, received the toughest sentence: 13 years in prison. After the ruling, a Spanish judge issued a new European arrest warrant for Carles Puigdemont, the former leader of Catalonia, who has been living in self-imposed exile in Belgium, after fleeing to avoid prosecution in Spain. |
| The court verdicts followed a landmark trial in which 12 leaders of the Catalan independence movement stood accused of crimes ranging from rebellion and sedition to misuse of public funds. | The court verdicts followed a landmark trial in which 12 leaders of the Catalan independence movement stood accused of crimes ranging from rebellion and sedition to misuse of public funds. |
| The court sentenced nine of the former leaders to prison for sedition, as well as for misusing public funds. The remaining three were sentenced for the lesser crime of disobedience during the events two years ago, which culminated in an unconstitutional referendum followed by a declaration of independence in October 2017. | The court sentenced nine of the former leaders to prison for sedition, as well as for misusing public funds. The remaining three were sentenced for the lesser crime of disobedience during the events two years ago, which culminated in an unconstitutional referendum followed by a declaration of independence in October 2017. |
| The ruling came amid another buildup of tensions in Catalonia, and protesters took to the streets of Barcelona and other parts of Catalonia as soon as the verdict was made public. The demonstrators cut off the main Diagonal Avenue that crosses Barcelona, while some gathered outside the prison where Mr. Junqueras and others are being held. | The ruling came amid another buildup of tensions in Catalonia, and protesters took to the streets of Barcelona and other parts of Catalonia as soon as the verdict was made public. The demonstrators cut off the main Diagonal Avenue that crosses Barcelona, while some gathered outside the prison where Mr. Junqueras and others are being held. |
| In recent days, the Spanish authorities had deployed anti-riot police officers to prepare for any major street protests. The protests escalated late on Monday, particularly around Barcelona’s airport, where thousands of demonstrators sought to occupy the main terminal. Footage shared online showed officers with batons clashing with crowds. Airlines canceled more than 100 flights, while demonstrators also disrupted traffic on some of the main railway lines and roads of Catalonia. | |
| Quim Torra, the separatist leader of the regional Catalan government, had called on citizens to demonstrate. He later also called for amnesty for the convicted leaders. | Quim Torra, the separatist leader of the regional Catalan government, had called on citizens to demonstrate. He later also called for amnesty for the convicted leaders. |
| The verdict came before a repeat national election on Nov. 10. It was called after Pedro Sánchez, the caretaker Socialist prime minister, failed to get sufficient support from smaller parties in Parliament to form a government. It will be Spain’s fourth election in four years, highlighting the country’s political polarization and fragmentation. | The verdict came before a repeat national election on Nov. 10. It was called after Pedro Sánchez, the caretaker Socialist prime minister, failed to get sufficient support from smaller parties in Parliament to form a government. It will be Spain’s fourth election in four years, highlighting the country’s political polarization and fragmentation. |
| The decision on Monday will have a direct impact on next month’s national election because Mr. Junqueras and five other condemned politicians had planned to run. | The decision on Monday will have a direct impact on next month’s national election because Mr. Junqueras and five other condemned politicians had planned to run. |
| The verdicts were also handed down just before some of the defendants completed two years in jail, after being denied bail. The prison sentences ranged from nine to 13 years, including 11.5 years for Carme Forcadell, who presided over the debates within the Catalan Parliament in 2017. | The verdicts were also handed down just before some of the defendants completed two years in jail, after being denied bail. The prison sentences ranged from nine to 13 years, including 11.5 years for Carme Forcadell, who presided over the debates within the Catalan Parliament in 2017. |
| While the seven judges of the Supreme Court found the Catalan leaders guilty of sedition, they did not sentence them for rebellion, a crime that could have resulted in prison sentences as long as 25 years. | While the seven judges of the Supreme Court found the Catalan leaders guilty of sedition, they did not sentence them for rebellion, a crime that could have resulted in prison sentences as long as 25 years. |
| By discarding the charge of rebellion, the judges of the Supreme Court on Monday opened the door to a new attempt by Spain to extradite Mr. Puigdemont, who fled alongside other members of his former Catalan government in late 2017, after they were ousted from office by the Spanish government, which used emergency constitutional powers to impose a period of direct rule over Catalonia. | By discarding the charge of rebellion, the judges of the Supreme Court on Monday opened the door to a new attempt by Spain to extradite Mr. Puigdemont, who fled alongside other members of his former Catalan government in late 2017, after they were ousted from office by the Spanish government, which used emergency constitutional powers to impose a period of direct rule over Catalonia. |
| Over the past two years, Mr. Puigdemont has successfully fought against extradition attempts from Belgium and Germany, where local judges rejected the Spanish claim that he had led a rebellion. | Over the past two years, Mr. Puigdemont has successfully fought against extradition attempts from Belgium and Germany, where local judges rejected the Spanish claim that he had led a rebellion. |
| In a televised address to the nation, Mr. Sánchez said the judges of the Supreme Court had given “an example of autonomy and transparency” that also helped confirm Spain “as one of the best democracies in the world.” | In a televised address to the nation, Mr. Sánchez said the judges of the Supreme Court had given “an example of autonomy and transparency” that also helped confirm Spain “as one of the best democracies in the world.” |
| He added, “In a democracy, nobody is judged for his ideas or for defending a political project, but for crimes inscribed within our judicial framework.” | He added, “In a democracy, nobody is judged for his ideas or for defending a political project, but for crimes inscribed within our judicial framework.” |
| Mr. Sánchez said the verdict “opened a new stage” for Catalonia, but he put the onus on Catalan society to resolve its own dispute over independence. | Mr. Sánchez said the verdict “opened a new stage” for Catalonia, but he put the onus on Catalan society to resolve its own dispute over independence. |
| “What is at stake is cohabitation within Catalonia, not the territorial integrity of our country,” he said. | “What is at stake is cohabitation within Catalonia, not the territorial integrity of our country,” he said. |
| Center-right Spanish politicians welcomed the ruling. Pablo Casado, the leader of the main opposition Popular Party, called on Mr. Sánchez to promise not use his executive right to grant an early pardon to the condemned Catalan politicians. | Center-right Spanish politicians welcomed the ruling. Pablo Casado, the leader of the main opposition Popular Party, called on Mr. Sánchez to promise not use his executive right to grant an early pardon to the condemned Catalan politicians. |
| “Whoever does it, pays it,” Mr. Casado said. | “Whoever does it, pays it,” Mr. Casado said. |
| In a televised news conference, Laura Borras, a separatist lawmaker, called the ruling “profoundly anti-democratic” and a violation not only of the rights of elected politicians, but also of the more than two 2 million people who voted for separatist parties in Catalonia in recent years. | In a televised news conference, Laura Borras, a separatist lawmaker, called the ruling “profoundly anti-democratic” and a violation not only of the rights of elected politicians, but also of the more than two 2 million people who voted for separatist parties in Catalonia in recent years. |
| “This is a ruling that creates irreparable damage,” Ms. Borras said. | “This is a ruling that creates irreparable damage,” Ms. Borras said. |
| In a separate address, Mr. Torra, the Catalan president, pledged “to continue advancing along the path toward independence, without excuses.” | In a separate address, Mr. Torra, the Catalan president, pledged “to continue advancing along the path toward independence, without excuses.” |
| In an audio message recorded from prison, Mr. Junqueras said the ruling was “not justice, but vengeance. This is punishment for all those who live here, in Catalonia and in this society.” | In an audio message recorded from prison, Mr. Junqueras said the ruling was “not justice, but vengeance. This is punishment for all those who live here, in Catalonia and in this society.” |
| The former Catalan leaders could still appeal their case before Spain’s Constitutional Court, if they could demonstrate that their fundamental rights had been violated, as well as to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. | The former Catalan leaders could still appeal their case before Spain’s Constitutional Court, if they could demonstrate that their fundamental rights had been violated, as well as to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. |
| Some former Catalan leaders have been awaiting a separate European ruling on whether they should be granted immunity as elected members of the European Parliament, after winning their seats in European elections last May. | Some former Catalan leaders have been awaiting a separate European ruling on whether they should be granted immunity as elected members of the European Parliament, after winning their seats in European elections last May. |
| Among those elected to the European Parliament were Mr. Puigdemont and Mr. Junqueras, who is the leader of the Esquerra Republicana party that is now the largest Catalan force within the Spanish Parliament. | Among those elected to the European Parliament were Mr. Puigdemont and Mr. Junqueras, who is the leader of the Esquerra Republicana party that is now the largest Catalan force within the Spanish Parliament. |