AFP, Madrid :
A Supreme Court judge in Madrid began questioning separatist leaders Friday who were jailed pending a probe into their role in Catalonia’s independence drive, in what they hope could signal their release.
Any release on bail would mark a turn in the campaign for regional elections on December 21, particularly for separatist parties who have repeatedly accused Madrid of taking “political prisoners” and “repression” after their attempt to declare unilateral independence failed.
“State repression is the mobilising element of the independence movement right now,” said Oriol Bartomeus, politics professor at the Autonomous University of Barcelona. “Once they no longer have political prisoners, they will have to change their campaign.”
Catalonia’s sacked vice-president Oriol Junqueras was the first to be questioned by Judge Pablo Llarena of the Supreme Court-a meeting that lasted just 20 minutes, according to a court source.
Seven other former regional ministers and the leaders of two pro-independence civic associations are also due to appear before the judge, who has taken on the investigation into the Catalan leaders, most of whom are accused of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds.
Until last week, Spain’s National Court, which takes on major criminal cases, had been in charge of the case and and had sent Junqueras and his former ministers to jail pending the probe on November 2.
Before that, the two leaders of the pro-independence ANC and Omnium Cultural associations, Jordi Sanchez and Jordi Cuixart, had also been sent to prison by the same court.
However, Llarena of the Supreme Court decided the members of Catalonia’s parliament he had been investigating on similar charges could remain free as the probe continues.
Now he has taken on the probe of the other separatist leaders, they hope he will make the same decision for them.
A Supreme Court judge in Madrid began questioning separatist leaders Friday who were jailed pending a probe into their role in Catalonia’s independence drive, in what they hope could signal their release.
Any release on bail would mark a turn in the campaign for regional elections on December 21, particularly for separatist parties who have repeatedly accused Madrid of taking “political prisoners” and “repression” after their attempt to declare unilateral independence failed.
“State repression is the mobilising element of the independence movement right now,” said Oriol Bartomeus, politics professor at the Autonomous University of Barcelona. “Once they no longer have political prisoners, they will have to change their campaign.”
Catalonia’s sacked vice-president Oriol Junqueras was the first to be questioned by Judge Pablo Llarena of the Supreme Court-a meeting that lasted just 20 minutes, according to a court source.
Seven other former regional ministers and the leaders of two pro-independence civic associations are also due to appear before the judge, who has taken on the investigation into the Catalan leaders, most of whom are accused of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds.
Until last week, Spain’s National Court, which takes on major criminal cases, had been in charge of the case and and had sent Junqueras and his former ministers to jail pending the probe on November 2.
Before that, the two leaders of the pro-independence ANC and Omnium Cultural associations, Jordi Sanchez and Jordi Cuixart, had also been sent to prison by the same court.
However, Llarena of the Supreme Court decided the members of Catalonia’s parliament he had been investigating on similar charges could remain free as the probe continues.
Now he has taken on the probe of the other separatist leaders, they hope he will make the same decision for them.
