Catalonian Speaker bailed: Spain reacts

  • 6 years ago
She left Madrid’s Supreme Court to shouts of “you’re not alone”.

After a long day of hearings, the Speaker of the Catalonian Parliament, Carmen Forcadell was granted bail on charges of rebellion, sedition, and misuse of public funds. She will be kept at Alcala Meco prison, outside Madrid,, until she posts funds of 150,000 euros.

Five other members of the parliament’s governing body were released, one without bail.

22” Soundbite, Ester Capella ERC Mp – (About wheter Forcadell acted bad. )

Spain’s MP for Barcelona, Ester Cap[eya] said:

“The reasons for this case are politcal, not legal. The crime imputed to Carmen Forcad[ay] is allowing the political debate of a parliamentary majority that has a democratic mandate from the polls on September the 27th.”

40” Transition (outside the court)

The hearing was in the Supreme Court, rather than the National Court, where the separatist leaders are being tried, because the defendants still have parliamentary immunity.

50” Soundbite, Ignacio González Vega. Spokeperson of “Jueces para la Democracia” (Judges for Democracy)

Judges for Democracy said the measures taken by the Supreme Court were less severe than those of the National Court, and more in line with a statement the professional body had recently issued on legal guarantees and rights. He said the decision was more respectful of the principle of freedom.

1’08” Stand-up Carlos Marlasca

For Euronews Carlos Marlasca reports that Carmen Forca[day]‘s day in court had lasted 14 hours, at the end of which she left to go back to prison.

Judge Llarena’s decision to free the accused, even on bail, could change the fate of the 8 members of the Catalan government currently in prison, particularly if the Supreme Court had the final say in the case.

1’36” End

STORY

The members of Table of the Catalan Parliament went to declare in the Supreme Court after their lawyers asked the judge last week for more time to prepare the defense. It’s important to point out they it’s another court that the one that send to prison the members of the former Catalan government, which was the National High Court (Audiencia Nacional). The reason is that only the Supreme Court can judge persons with granted immunity. In total they were six, with Carme Forcadell (former president of the ANC, Catalan National Assembly), the president of the Parliament, as the one with the highest risk to be sent to jail. The other 5 members were Lluís Guinó, Anna Simó, Ramona Barrufet, Lluis María Corominas and Joan J. Nuet.

During the morning there was a big gathering of national and foreign media. There were members of PdeCAT, Barcelona en Comu (Xavi Domeneq), Esquerra Republicana, relatives and supporters of the independence with shirts of “los Jordis”. Some citizens shout them demanding the unity of Spain and teasing about the simple “symbolism” that Forcadell declare to the judge regarding the declaration of independence. Several members of the police watched and separate both parts to avoid any physical confrontation.

The declaration started at 9:30, with more than two hours of Forcadell (the one that declare for more time) and took until some minuts before 19, but the final decision was known around 22. You may saw the result in the agencies. The only members of parties which stayed during all the day was the ones of Esquerra and also the vicepresident of Municipios por la Independecia (Municipalities for the Independence). The freedom for the five members of the Parliament was celebrated with shouts saying “No tinc por” (We are not afraid) or ”Independencia”. When Forcadell leaves in a car to the jail, there were also people with independentist flags shoutin “no estás sola” (you are not alone),

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