The Spanish Public Prosecutor’s Office has demanded 25 years in prison for the region’s former vice-president, Oriol Junqueras, as part of the banned independence referendum in Catalonia.
For eight other defendants, including former Catalan ministers and two separatist leaders, the agency now has between 16 and 17 years in prison. The politicians and activists are accused of rebellion, disobedience and misappropriation of public funds.
The Supreme Court in Madrid had decided to open a case last week after nearly a year of investigations. In total, 18 separatists are to be brought to trial. A date for the beginning of the process was initially not mentioned, but observers expect so early next year. Partly in detention, partly in exile Following the unconstitutional independence referendum of 1 October 2017 and a subsequent split-off decision, the central government temporarily suspended the region in autumn 2017.
Junqueras and eight of his most important comrades since then are in custody. Some of them were nevertheless elected to the regional parliament in the regional elections in December 2017. Several separatists, including Regional President Carles Puigdemont, who stepped down in October 2017, fled into exile.
