Supreme Court judgment on leading roles in 2017 independence bid leads to violence in Catalonia

Summary:

On 14 October 2019 Spain’s Supreme Court announced its verdict in the trial of 12 Catalan leaders accused of sedition, disobedience and misuse of public funds over their roles in the region’s 2017 failed bid for independence. The Supreme Court sentenced nine of them to between 9 and 13 years in prison.

Further information:

The Supreme Court's decision triggered mass protests in the region with Barcelona's international airport as the focal point of the protests. More than 60 flights were cancelled on 14 October. A general strike in Barcelona was held on 18 October, the fifth day of protests. Violent protests have occurred with protesters throwing projectiles at police and starting fires whereas police responded with tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon. On the 26, after a peaceful gathering of an estimated 350,000 pro-independence supporters in Barcelona, the protest ended in violence as some of them clashed with the police. Following the violent unrest, tens of thousands of people demonstrated in Barcelona on the 27 against independence and called for unity across the country and peaceful co-existence in Catalonia.

Official

Spanish Supreme Court, Judicial News: Press Release: Special Proceedings 20907/2017 http://www.poderjudicial.es/cgpj/en/Judiciary/Supreme-Court/Judicial-News/Press-Release--Special-Proceedings-20907-2017

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News

Catalan News, 14/10/2019: 9 pro-independence leaders convicted to 9 to 13 years in jail for sedition http://www.catalannews.com/catalan-trial/item/9-pro-independence-leaders-convicted-to-9-to-13-years-in-jail-for-sedition

BBC News, 14/10/2019: Violent clashes erupt as Spanish court jails Catalonia leaders https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-49974289

Euronews, 14/10/2019: Flights cancelled as pro-separatist protesters clash with police at Barcelona airport https://www.euronews.com/2019/10/14/pro-separatist-protesters-collapse-barcelona-s-airport-as-a-reaction-to-the-sentence

Politico, 14/10/2019: Spain’s Supreme Court issues new Carles Puigdemont arrest warrant https://www.politico.eu/article/spain-supreme-court-issues-new-carles-puigdemont-arrest-warrant/

Euronews, 14/10/2019: Violent clashes over Catalan separatist leaders' prison terms https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/14/catalan-separatist-leaders-given-lengthy-prison-sentences

France 24, 14/10/2019: Spain jails Catalan separatists for up to 13 years over independence bid https://www.france24.com/en/20191014-spain-jails-catalan-separatists-for-up-to-13-years-over-independence-bid

Reuters, 13/10/2019: Spain jails Catalan separatist leaders, sparking protests, clashes https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-spain-politics-catalonia/spain-jails-catalan-separatist-leaders-over-failed-independence-bid-idUKKBN1WS0RQ

Euronews, 16/10/2019: At least four detained as police clash with Catalan separatist supporters in Barcelona https://www.euronews.com/2019/10/15/three-detained-as-police-clash-with-catalan-separatist-supporters-in-barcelona

Politico, 17/10/2019: Catalan president calls for new independence vote https://www.politico.eu/article/catalan-president-new-independence-vote/

Euronews, 18/10/2019: Former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont walks free after handing himself to Brussels police https://www.euronews.com/2019/10/18/former-catalan-leader-carles-puigdemont-walks-free-after-handing-himself-to-brussels-polic

France 14, 18/10/2019: Catalan separatists clash with Barcelona police ahead of general strike https://www.france24.com/en/20191018-catalan-separatists-clash-with-barcelona-police-ahead-of-general-strike

Reuters, 18/10/2019: Thousands converge on Barcelona for fifth day of Catalan protests https://www.reuters.com/article/us-spain-politics-catalonia-strike/thousands-converge-on-barcelona-for-fifth-day-of-catalan-protests-idUSKBN1WX0TY

DeutscheWelle, 19/10/2019: Spain rejects talks with Catalan separatists after days of unrest https://www.dw.com/en/spain-rejects-talks-with-catalan-separatists-after-days-of-unrest/a-50902611

Euronews, 19/10/2019: Authorities 'not overwhelmed' by Barcelona street violence, says Spain's acting interior minister https://www.euronews.com/2019/10/18/catalonia-faces-24-hours-of-general-strike-and-further-pro-separatist-protests

Euronews, 23/10/2019: Catalan independence supporters staged a 'clean protest' in Barcelona https://www.euronews.com/2019/10/23/catalan-independence-supporters-staged-a-clean-protest-in-barcelona

DeutscheWelle, 26/10/2019: Spain: Violence erupts after peaceful Catalan independence rally https://www.dw.com/en/spain-violence-erupts-after-peaceful-catalan-independence-rally/a-51003275

Euronews, 27/10/2019: Catalonia protests turn violent as militants clash with police after 350,000-strong peaceful march https://www.euronews.com/2019/10/26/watch-more-protests-in-barcelona-after-separatist-leaders-jailed

Euronews, 27/10/2019: Thousands march for Spanish unity in Barcelona one day after violent pro-independence protests https://www.euronews.com/2019/10/27/thousands-march-for-spanish-unity-in-barcelona-one-day-after-violent-pro-independence-prot

The Guardian, 27/10/2019: At least 80,000 attend march against Catalan independence https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/27/at-least-80000-attend-march-against-catalan-separation-in-barcelona-spain

Reuters, 09/11/2019: 'Freedom for political prisoners,' Catalan separatists chant on election eve https://www.reuters.com/article/us-spain-election-catalonia/freedom-for-political-prisoners-catalan-separatists-chant-on-election-eve-idUSKBN1XJ0GP

El Pais (english): 11/11/2019: Catalan independence protesters block highway to France https://elpais.com/elpais/2019/11/11/inenglish/1573470440_462977.html

France 24, 18/11/2019: Catalan president goes on trial for 'disobedience' https://www.france24.com/en/20191118-catalan-president-goes-on-trial-for-disobedience

Reuters, 16/11/2019: Pro-independence protesters take to Barcelona's main train station https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-spain-politics-catalonia/pro-independence-protesters-take-to-barcelonas-main-train-station-idUKKBN1XQ0GF

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Commentary and Analysis

The Guardian, 14/10/2019: What is the story of Catalan independence – and what happens next? https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/14/catalan-independence-what-is-the-story-what-happens-next

Politico, 14/10/2019: What Catalan convictions mean for Spain’s future https://www.politico.eu/article/catalan-independence-movement-leaders-jailed-spain-future/

Euro|topics, October 2019: No solution to the Catalonia Crisis? https://www.eurotopics.net/en/228625/catalans-protest-jail-sentences-for-separatists

The Guardian, 18/10/2019: New generation, new tactics: the changing face of Catalan protests https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/18/new-generation-new-tactics-the-changing-face-of-catalan-protests

BBC News, 18/10/2019: Catalonia's bid for independence from Spain explained https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-29478415

The Guardian, 07/11/2019: As prime minister, I refuse to let Catalan separatists undermine Spanish democracy https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/nov/07/catalan-separatists-undermine-spanish-democracy-pedro-sanchez

The Guardian, 16/11/2019: The Catalan crisis is key to the rise of the Spanish far right https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/nov/16/catalan-crisis-spanish-far-right-vox

The Washington Post, 21/11/2019: What Spain’s election says about Catalan independence https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/11/21/what-spains-elections-says-about-catalan-independence/

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