Concludes the investigation on the Catalan secessionist attempt

USPA NEWS - Judge Pablo Llarena of the Supreme Court of Spain has concluded the investigation of the events that led to the failed declaration of independence of Catalonia. The judgment will be held in autumn and Catalan politicians and social leaders from that region will sit on the bench, some of whom are in jail while others are fleeing from Justice abroad.

The judge accuses all the members of the regional government of Catalonia who declared the independence of their territory, the head of the Catalan Police and the leaders of the social organizations that support secession. Among the defendants are the former president of the Catalan government Carles Puigdemont, who is on the run in Germany; the parliamentarian of the anti-system formation Anna Gabriel, who is fugitive in Switzerland, and the former regional government counselors Toni Comin, Meritxell Serret, Clara Ponsati, Lluis Puig and Marta Rovira, also fled. To all of them, the judge declares them "in default." The magistrate of the Supreme Court considers proven the crimes of rebellion and embezzlement of public money, for which they could be sentenced to up to 25 years in prison.

In principle, the possibility is considered that the judgment against the independence leaders will be held next November. However, it is not certain that this will happen. The Supreme Court will enable the month of August, traditionally vacation, to resolve procedural issues and set the opening date of the oral judgment. Sources of the High Court recognize that the number of appeals and requests for annulment of the proceedings carried out that are expected to present the defendants' defenses could delay the start of the judgment.

The court that will judge the independence leaders will be formed by seven judges of the Supreme Court. Five of them already know each other. They are the magistrates Manuel Marchena, Luciano Varela, Jose Manuel Berdugo, Andres Martinez Arrieta and Antonio del Moral. All of them are part of the Admission Room of the Second Chamber of the Supreme Court, which is in charge of investigating the events that will be judged. It is still necessary to appoint two others, who will join the court.

Meanwhile, the new Socialist Government of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez tries to reduce the tension with the independence leaders and in recent days has transferred the imprisoned politicians to Catalan prisons. At the same time, it has initiated conversations with the regional government of Catalonia to meet its demands and try to reach an agreement. According to published some Spanish newspapers Thursday, the Catalan government would be willing to forget the secessionist project if Catalonia receives from the State 6,000 million Euros more. The political path runs parallel to the judicial one.