Spanish Constitutional Court initiates proceedings against independence leaders – Management Journal

Measure comes after a resolution of the Catalan separatists in defining the path of the autonomous community towards independence was passed.

AFP .- the Spanish Constitutional Court today began the process for the adoption of punitive measures against leaders Catalan separatists to pass a resolution in the regional Parliament in defining the path of the autonomous community towards independence.

the High Court, which had warned of the illegality of that decision days before its approval Wednesday, proceeded to their provisional suspension before finally annulled, said in a statement.

also the judges decided to initiate proceedings for an eventual take punitive measures against the table of the regional Parliament, the body that directs Catalan chamber, for failing to prevent the vote as previously claimed him.

These could range from a fine of 3,350 to $ 33,500 to suspension of functions or the opening of criminal proceedings against them.

the resolution, passed last Wednesday by 72 separatists deputies of the 135 that make up the regional chamber, advocates the secession of Spain as “the only possible way” to the Catalans decide their future, and outlines the next steps for the drafting of the Constitution of the future Catalan republic.

in November had already approved a similar motion, which announced the beginning of a process of independence and declared insumisos institutions Spanish, which would be suspended weeks later by this court.

But this time the approval came with notice of judges that would incur an illegality.

the Spanish conservative government appealed Friday the measure and asked the court to initiate criminal proceedings against the president of the Catalan Parliament, Carme Forcadell, which in his opinion should have paralyzed the vote.

If so, it would be the first once the High Court makes use of the new powers provided by the Spanish government to curb the separatist plans of the leaders of this rich region of 7.5 million people.

Earlier this body only exercised interpreter the Spanish Constitution but did not have mechanisms to enforce its judgments. Thanks to a reform approved in October, its judges may take punitive action against one who disobeys.

Representatives of the pro-independence parties noted that desacatarán the court decision and go forward in the development of the Catalan Constitution.

Even Anna Gabriel, leader of the small anti-capitalist party CUP , he warned that the disqualification of the president of the regional parliament would be “a point of no return” in the relations between Catalonia and the Spanish government.

After years of independence and unsuccessful attempts to hold a referendum on self boom, the separatist leaders Catalans pushed for advance unilaterally to secede citing the parliamentary majority obtained in elections regional September 2015.