Catalan Trial: Day 34 summary

On day 34 of the Catalan trial of pro-independence leaders – now entering its 11th week – former Catalan government officials testified in Spain’s Supreme Court.

Catalonia’s vice president Pere Aragonès was scheduled to testify, but in the end he chose his right not to take the stand, as he is involved in a related case.

Catalan Trial: click here full details of those accused, the charges, and the accusers.

While Catalonia celebrating its Sant Jordi’s Day, former interior minister Jordi Jané and former government secretary Joan Vidal both told the court that the government’s aim was always for a referendum agreed with Spain.

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Jané, along with Meritxell Ruiz and Jordi Baiget, who also testified today, left their posts three months before the 1 October referendum, with all of them explaining that their resignations were not connected to a potential unilateral vote.

However, they cited growing tensions between Catalan and Spanish executives to justify their resignations.

Meanwhile, David Badal, who was responsible for government payments in 2017, denied that any payments were made to a company that prosecutors suspect of having printed material for the referendum.

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As for the head of mediation teams of the Catalan police (the Mossos d’Esquadra) at the time, he denied speaking with imprisoned leaders Jordi Sànchez and Jordi Cuixart during the 20 September protests against Spanish police raids.

Former Catalan minister Jordi Jané testifying in the Supreme Court on 23 April 2019.

A mix-up in the summoning of witnesses meant that Tuesday’s session ended early, meaning that Albert Batlle, the official responsible at the time for the Catalan police, and who also resigned before the vote, will testify on Wednesday.

It is expected that witnesses due to testify on Wednesday and Thursday will be primarily asked about the events in the run-up to the referendum, particularly about the protests in response to Spanish police raids on 20 September 2017.

Catalan Trial: click here full details of those accused, the charges, and the accusers.

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