A Spanish court has found the head of Catalonia’s regional government, Quim Torra, guilty of disobedience and sentenced him to an 18-month ban on holding public office after he failed to remove signs in favor of jailed leaders.
Torra was also fined €33,000.
During the electoral campaign in October, Torra was ordered by Spain’s electoral authority to withdraw signs in favor of the jailed Catalan leaders from the regional government headquarters and warned he could face criminal charges for failing to comply.
He can appeal the court ruling.
Also on rt.com Clashes with police after Barcelona v. Real Madrid game as tens of thousands protest for Catalan independence (VIDEOS)Torra’s case is just the latest incident in ongoing disputes between Madrid and the region over Catalonian independence efforts.
A Belgian court recently postponed the extradition hearing of former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont, who was among a number of pro-independence leaders that fled Spain in 2017 following an independence referendum Madrid declared illegal.
Other leaders have been jailed for their role in the attempted secession, including Oriol Junqueras, who was sentenced to 13 years in jail. The Court of Justice of the EU said on Thursday that Junqueras was an MEP and should enjoy the immunity guaranteed with that position.
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