Catalan leaders jailed for attempt to break up Spain

Bloomberg

Catalan separatists who tried to break away from Spain in 2017 were handed jail sentences of up to 13 years by the Supreme Court in a ruling that marks a watershed in relations with the troubled region.
Former Catalan Vice President Oriol Junqueras was handed the stiffest sentence while eight other activists were given lesser terms of between nine and 12 years.
Carles Puigdemont, the regional leader who was the figurehead of the movement, remains in exile in Brussels after fleeing Spain two years ago.
The convictions will inject an extra dose of rancor into Spain’s political system as the country prepares for its fourth general election in as many years on November 10. Despite winning the last vote, acting PM Pedro Sanchez failed to piece together a majority as he struggled to manage the divisions left behind by the Catalan crisis.
In the Catalan capital of Barcelona, protesters blocked several major avenues, newspaper La Vanguardia reported.
More protesters are expected to convene in the city centre at 1 pm and about 500 people have gathered in front of the local government offices in Girona, Puigdemont’s hometown.
The court ruled that Junqueras was guilty of sedition — which involves preventing the application of the law — and aggravated misuse of public funds. He helped to organise an illegal referendum and a month of protests that climaxed in an abortive declaration of independence in the regional parliament. He was cleared of the more serious charge of rebellion.
“The measures ostensibly designed to bring about independence as promised were manifestly not up to the task,” the court said.
“The state at all times retained its control of military, police, judicial and even social forces. And, by doing so, it made any bid for independence a mere pipe-dream.”
Raul Romeva, the regional government’s former head of foreign relations, and Jordi Turull, its former spokesman, were found guilty on the same charges and sentenced to 12 years in jail.
Carme Forcadell, the former speaker of the Catalan parliament, was sentenced to 11 and a half years for sedition.