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Spain: Quim Torra, the Catalan president was facing justice in Barcelona

Quim Torra was Monday, November 18, in court in Barcelona, ​​as part of his lawsuit for disobedience. He is reproached for refusing to withdraw separatist symbols. How was the trial held and what does the Catalan president risk?

From our correspondent in Barcelona,

The facts go back to last March, when the Central Election Commission - which ensures the proper conduct of elections - had asked Quim Torra to remove the banners and other independence symbols from the facade of the Generalitat, the palace of the Catalan president, during the election campaign in April. Faced with his refusal, a judicial procedure was launched for disobedience.

On Monday, during his trial, the Catalan president admitted to having disobeyed the Commission's order, because, according to him, this withdrawal request is " illegal " and runs counter to the rights and freedoms of the Catalans. The public prosecutor claims 20 months of ineligibility and 30,000 euros fine. The separatists have already announced that they are " preparing " for this new verdict, expected in the coming weeks. They are aware that Torra will probably be doomed. They denounce a new political trial.

Tensions are still high in Catalonia

And separatist mobilizations also continue in the streets. In addition to the demonstration of support for the president, Monday against the Catalan court, every night for a month now, small groups cut the main axes of Barcelona. Their next major action is scheduled for December 18, the day of "Clasico", the football match between Barcelona and Madrid.

But these tensions in the street also do not help the political negotiations that are going on these days between the head of the government Pedro Sánchez and the independentist parties on which rests the investiture of the socialist candidate to his re-election. The end of the political blockade in Spain today rests on the vote of the Catalan parties.

The political situation in Catalonia is not much more stable lately ...

She is even very unstable. In recent months, there has been growing tension between the separatist right of Junts Per Catalunya - the party of the Catalan president - which seeks a confrontation with Madrid, and the separatist left Esquerra Republicana, with whom they form a regional government. coalition and has been more open to dialogue lately.

If Quim Torra is finally sentenced to ineligibility, he will be automatically removed from office and his number two leftist independence should take over. But Torra would not let his rival rule the region so easily and new early Catalan elections would probably be called immediately.

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