Monday, March 13, 2017

Court disqualifies ex-Catalan president for holding separatist referendum

A Spanish court has sentenced on Monday a former president of the northeastern region of Catalonia to two years disqualification for holding a non-binding popular referendum on the region's secession from Spain despite it being banned by the Constitutional Court.


A regional court found Artur Mas, who presided the region between 2010-16, guilty of defying a previous court order banning a "popular consultation" on the independence of Catalonia from Spain, which Mas nonetheless organized on Nov. 9, 2014.

The Constitutional Court had said the non-binding referendum contravened the Spanish Constitution and threatened the territorial integrity of the state.

The sentence means Mas will be barred from holding any public office for the next two years.

In the same decision, the Catalan court also sentenced the former regional vice-president, Joana Ortega, to one year and nine months disqualification; Catalonia's ex-chief of education, Irene Rigau, was disqualified for a year and a half.

Both had played a role in organizing the controversial vote.

On the other hand, the court unanimously decided to exonerate Mas from charges of misusing the powers of his office, for which the prosecution had asked eight years' disqualification.

Monday's verdict is still subject to appeal at the Supreme Court.
  EFE/EPA
13/3/17

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