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THE SPEAKER OF Catalonia’s dismissed parliament spent the night in jail over her role in the region’s independence drive, a judicial source has said, as supporters raised €150,000 bail for her release.
A judge at Spain’s Supreme Court had yesterday ordered Carme Forcadell to be detained on charges of “rebellion” – which carries a maximum jail term of 30 years – until she paid the amount.
A source said Forcadell arrived at the Alcala Meco jail near Madrid after midnight (11pm Irish time).
Her lawyer said he was confident his client “could be freed” today after the bond is paid.
The influential pro-independence lobby group ANC said it would come up with the cash, calling on members to contribute in solidarity with Forcadell and other former Catalan officials.
But by 10pm Irish time, the court had not yet received any bail payment, a spokeswoman said.
Catalonia’s parliament voted last month to declare independence from Spain following a banned referendum on the issue.
Court appearances
Separatists say the disputed 1 October referendum saw 90% back secession, although others say pro-unity Catalans largely boycotted the vote.
In response, Madrid fired Catalonia’s government and parliament, suspended the region’s autonomy and called new elections there next month.
Forcadell appeared at the Supreme Court in Madrid on Thursday along with five former Catalan lawmakers.
She left the court in a police van, but the others were given a temporary reprieve by the judge, who said they must pay €20,000 each within a week or be detained.
“Thank you very much to all of you for your support, warmth and esteem,” Forcadell said on Twitter.
Writing on Twitter, deposed Catalan president Carles Puigdemont, who is in self-imposed exile in Belgium, said Forcadell had “to sleep in jail for having allowed a democratic debate”.
A lifelong advocate of Catalan independence, Forcadell insists that as parliamentary speaker she didn’t “have the freedom to stop” the 27 October vote that saw lawmakers back a break from Madrid.
Eight members of Puigdemont’s former cabinet were detained last week on charges of sedition, rebellion and misuse of public funds for their role in the independence push.
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How to break up a country in ten easy lessons by Mariano Rajoy and his crazy Spanish “constitution”
@Austin Rock: very sketchy piece of news. This woman was advised by the Parlament Catalan lawyers that was she was doing was illegal – back in September. She decided to move forward though and impose the will of some – approx 50% of the electorate – over the whole Catalan population – the other 50%. Yesterday she admitted the unilateral declaration of independence was just “symbolic” when all the damage is done now. She can pay – and will pay the bail – and be released from prison. You play with fire, you can get burned… also why the Spanish constitution is crazy? Could you be more specific?
@Toki Wartooth: if you think that it’s 50/50, then I’m guessing you don’t leave la ramblas when in Catalonia for the cheap beer.
@Gulliver Foyle: it is actually Las Ramblas.
@Gulliver Foyle: it is not about thinking. It is about the Catalan parliamentary representation numbers in favour and against independence the way it has been done. And those are 50-50 more or less. Fact.
@Austin Rock: classy spain very classy next rajoy will take a dump in every young catalans hand and then demand a thank you and a I love spain celebration
@Austin Rock: not Rajoy’s constitution but the Spanish people’s constitution including 90% of the people of Catalonia who voted overwhelmingly in favour of that constitution.
@Stephen McManus: And the Beer isn’t that cheap compared to Cambrils.
@Matthew O’Kane: stay classy there. Have you some vendetta against Spain upholding their constitution which Catalonia have signed up to?
@Austin Rock: If that was a tittle of a book,..?
I’d say you’de probably ‘write’ one on Ireland in 5 ‘SIMPLE STEPS’…!
#1. VOTE IN A GOVERNMENT. (WITH-> ),
#2. ‘FREE’ ACCESS TO PRIVATE BAR/PUB.
#3. TELL EVERYONE ( WHO GIVES A SHIT,) LOUDLY, WHAT’S NEEDED, & DON’T DO IT..!
#4. TELL EVERYONE TO GET PISSED, ( SO THEY FORGET ABOUT #3. NEXT DAY.)
#5. ‘INVITE’ THE REST OF THE WORLD IN FOR A SLEEP-OVER & AN EVERLASTING PISS-UP..
ps. Tell everyone to bring an umbrella..!
@Austin Rock: 95% of catalans voted in favour of the constitution 1978, its possible to have a parallel set of laws.
Where did all these experts in Spanish politics suddenly come out from? Most seem to have watched a couple of videos posted on Facebook and now they know everything.
Ah stop, there’s people who couldn’t point out Catalonia out on a map 3 months ago. Now they know every detail of its history and politics. But don’t worry, within a month or two they’ll have completely forgotten about Catalonia and moved on to a fresh political outrage that’s arisen somewhere in the world.
@Stephen McManus: so true. Thanks. This comment is Top.
@Stephen McManus: Absolutely bang on there.
@Stephen McManus: Si, claro !
@Stephen McManus: Only recently Puigdemont himself sent in a letter to the Grauniad which was published as an article – imagine reading a letter by Slab Murphy where he complains about life in prison but makes absolutely no mention of how he ended up there in the first place.
Seeing fascists being sent to prison is a beautiful act of justice. And No. This won’t accelerate any breaking away of Spain. Or not the way some of you and the catalan fascist think… the old propaganda is not working anymore.
All down to result of December 21st Catalan election….Madrid doing its best to drive support for Catalan independence by putting them all in jail……..Think election result will be close….Not a majority for independence….
Don’t go to Spain on your Holidays,boycott the place till they learn about freedom of speech ,
@Brian O Reilly: congrtulation, you just won the “Stupid Comment of the Week” Award!!
“Separatists say the disputed 1 October referendum saw 90% back secession”…well that’s because separatists are often pathological liars.
@Fred Claus: A referendum which was illegal, unmonitored, unaccounted and rife with fraud. And where they announced they had won before they even finished ‘counting’ the ballots. 90% my arse.
There are always the pangs of pain, before birth.
So the supreme court has taken charge of the case, it means they will all be out in the next few weeks ahead of the elections. Well all but Puigdemont, who seems to be planning to lead his electoral campaign from Belgium.
I don’t think they will have forgotten my friend. The people of Catalan have spoken and now they are going to push with all their might to protect the new Republic. This story is going to be in the news for as long as the Spanish government prevents Catalon from being what it wants to be. The people of Catalon will make sure that their cause stays at the top of the news agenda.
And I could look at the Sexy policeman….
For the Journal:,I shall treasure this award .
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