The General Advocate of the Court of Justice of the European Union has confirmed that the European Parliament acted correctly in declaring vacant the seat won by former Catalan vice president, Oriol Junqueras in the May 2019 European Elections.
The former Prime Minister – Mariano Rajoy – and a number of his former ministers are understood to be under investigation by a court in Andorra over allegations made by one of the banks which operate in the country.
Former Catalan regional president and MEP – Carles Puigdemont – has been arrested by border forces on the Italian island of Sardinia.
Cabinet members will meet tomorrow to formalise the proposals after deputy prime minister Carmen Calvo, Minister of Justice, Juan Carlos Campo, and the Secretary of State for the Presidency, Félix Bolaños met on Friday.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is expected to appear in the Congress of Deputies before the end of the month to present the Governments reasoning behind what pardons have been issued.
In a vote held on Monday, European lawmakers voted 400 in favour, 248 against with 45 abstentions to remove the legal protections for Mr. Puigdemont.
“It is a sad day for the European Parliament. We have lost our immunity but the European Parliament has lost more than that, and as a result, European democracy too. This is a clear case of political prosecution,”
Carles Puigdemont – press statement
Antoni Comín and Clara Ponsatí have also been stripped of their immunity from prosecution for their involvement in the 2017 contested independence referendum and failed declaration of independence.
The vote paves the way for further legal moves by Spain, where they face extradition from Belgium. The Spanish government has welcomed the result of the European Parliament’s vote, claiming it showed that matters concerning Catalonia should be determined in Spain.
Puigdemont’s legal team plans to appeal against the loss of his immunity at the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg.
In a session held yesterday, the committee voted 15 in favour – 8 against, to a request issued by the Spanish Supreme Court to strip three JxCat MEPs – Carles Puigdemont, Toni Comín and Clara Ponsatí – of their political protections.
The decision will now proceed to the full session of the European Parliament, which is due to sit on the 8th March. Should the Parliament vote to approve the proposal the three could face extradition to Spain to stand trial for their involvement in the disputed independence referendum and declaration of 2017.
MEP’s will discuss a request from the Spanish Supreme Court to lift the legal protections, which would see the reactivation of a European Arrest Warrant for Mr. Puigdemont for his involvement in the disputed independence referendum and declaration of independence.
If passed, the proposal will move to the full European Parliament for debate and vote.
Prosecutors have said that due to the severity of the case, they find no reason of “justice, equity or public utility” to support the former leaders having their sentences quashed.
The Supreme Court itself will issue a final opinion on the case, which it will send to the Government who will make the final decision on if a pardon should be issued for those convicted.
In a hearing yesterday, defence lawyers working for Mr Torra argued that time since his suspension in January should be deducted from the ruling issued last week, shortening his suspension period by four months.
Mr Torra was removed from his position after being found guilty of disobedience after leaving political symbols on government buildings in the run up to last years general election.
