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Already name of document language volumes: Under subject “Más dura será la Caída” – in German, for example: “The case becomes even harder” – public prosecutor sent communication on indictment against deposed Catalan regional president Carles Puigdemont and His cabinet. The obvious oversight put a debate in motion in media and social networks. The question is: how neutral does Spanish judiciary behave in Catalan causa?
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Because of rebellion, incitement to turmoil, rebellion against state power and misappropriation of public funds, deposed Catalan regional government could threaten more than 30 years of imprisonment. Eight former ministers are already in custody, former regional president Puigdemont himself awaits in Brussels for a first interrogation in court. However, at latest since official indictment last week, Spanish media and lawyers ‘ associations have first criticised procedure.
At heart of allegations: Attorney General José Manuel Maza. The 66-year-old is part of conservative wing of Spanish judiciary. As a judge at Supreme Court, he was only one to vote against acquittal of a colleague who had worked up crimes of Franco dictatorship and was accused of abusing office.
The chief prosecutor himself tightened situation
Maza never denied his hard line against secessionist regional government in Barcelona. Even before actual independence referendum, he had brought accusation of “inciting riot” into discussion: grey-haired retirees, who at end of September before Catalan Ministry of Finance protest songs from Franco era and Catalan National anm Els Segadors had thus prevented police from leaving building.
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Maza defended subsequent arrests of several Catalan leaders and politicians, which furr exacerbated climate before referendum. And chief prosecutor was also first to take up accusation of rebellion – according to Spanish law with up to 30 years imprisonment – already weeks before declaration of Independence.
“Questionable procedure”
One of Mazas critics is Ignacio González Vega, judge and spokesman of Association judges for Democracy. He considers prosecution of public prosecutor to be “questionable” in both cases. Neir demonstrations of government buildings are to be regarded as riots nor a declaration of independence as rebellion. “According to Spanish criminal law, it must have come to use of force or at least have been called upon to blame rebellion,” says Vega. There is no indication of this. What Catalan regional government had done would be more likely to be reproach of conspiracy for rebellion. At age of 15, half of penalty is on this.
The quick action of investigating judge Carmen Lamela also provides criticism. The media shy 56-year-old has been working since 2014 at Audiencia Nacional, state court, which has been commissioned with terrorism, corruption and or “supraregional serious crimes”. Colleagues appreciate you as hardworking and nimble. Between filing of complaint and first interrogation of dismissed regional ministers was also – with withdrawal of holiday – only 48 hours.
