Spain in English

Court overturns Catalan Parliament resolution to investigate monarchy

Spain’s Constitutional Court has overturned a resolution passed in March by the Catalan Parliament to set up a committee to investigate the Spanish monarchy and its alleged ‘criminal activities’.

The high court upheld the appeal to overturn the resolution lodged by the Spanish government, on the grounds that the Catalan Parliament does not have the powers to assess matters relating to the crown.

ALSO READ: Juan Carlos criticised for meeting Saudi crown prince

The resolution was passed on 7 March with the votes of the pro-independence Junts per Catalunya (JxCat), Esquerra Republicana (ERC) and CUP parties along with left-wing Catalunya en Comú–Podem, but it was opposed by the chamber’s unionist parties, the Catalan Socialists (PSC), the People’s Party (PP), and Ciudadanos (Cs).

Felipe VI during his televised speech for Christmas 2018. (Casa Real)

ALSO READ: Madrid to take ‘monarchy investigation committee’ to court

The committee was to ‘investigate the criminal or irregular activities of people linked to the Royal Family,’ including allegations that King Felipe VI pressured banks and large firms to move their HQs outside Catalonia after the 2017 independence referendum.

The central government in Madrid quickly challenged the resolution in the Constitutional Court, which suspended it on 26 March whilst it considered the appeal and made the final ruling announced on Wednesday.

ALSO READ: Anti-corruption prosecutors question ex-mistress of former king

Exit mobile version