Catalan leader Quim Torra could be stripped of his mandate on Monday if a Spanish court finds him guilty of disobedience after pro-separatist banners were flown from state buildings earlier this year.
His sentencing — expected at 18:00 CET — comes less than a month after Spain’s Supreme Court sentenced nine other Catalan separatist leaders to between nine and 13 years in jail for staging an illegal independence referendum and is likely to spark new protests in the restive region.
The prosecution is seeking a 20-month ban on holding public office and a €30,000 fine for his refusal to take down banners featuring separatist symbols from government buildings during the campaigns for municipal and European elections in April and May.
It argues that the banners flouted rules on institutional neutrality.
Torra, meanwhile, argued that the order to take down the banners was “illegal” and that some of them were not political but part of the region’s heritage.
A guilty verdict from the regional High Court could lead to Torra losing his mandate and to fresh regional elections. He could, however, appeal to the country’s Supreme Court, whose ruling is final.
Torra was elected president of the Government of Catalonia in May 2018 following regional elections held the previous December when the region was under direct rule from Madrid following the independence referendum and after courts blocked three other candidates.
Not currently affiliated to any political formation, Torra ran for office under an alliance with the Junts per Catalunya party led by Carles Puigdemont — the former regional leader removed from office after the unilateral declaration of Catalonia independence.
Puigdemont, who has been in self-imposed exile in Belgium, is to appear in front of a Brussels court next month, which will decide whether to extradite him to Spain where he faces charges of sedition.
TOP Provides Multiple Solutions As A Digital Marketing Agency
Find Clients Who Pay For Online Reviews.
Digital marketing transforming the hospitality and tourism industry.
The True Benefits of Online Reviews.
BOOSTING DIGITAL MARKETING VIA BACKLINKS & ANCHOR TEXTS.
TOP Helps You Earn Money As A Social Media Influencer From Home.
TOP Can Handle Press Release Services For You.
2 Reasons Freelancers Love Influencers Marketing Platform TOP
Earn For Photos By Signing Up With TOP To know more >> https://topphotosgallery.com/ .
Find One Of The Best Ebooks Libraries With TOP
3 Reasons To Trust TOP Online Reputation Building Services.
2 Steps To Make Money Doing Reviews With TOP.
3 Reasons Content Creation Writers Should Check With TOP
2 Main Reasons To Opt With TOP For Online Reputation Repair.
Why All Advertisers Should Consider TOP Platform.
3 main Reasons to Go With TOP for Content Creation Needs of Any Kind
