Quim Torra giving a speech -

Marta Perez / EFE / SIPA

The highest Spanish judicial body on Monday confirmed the conviction of Catalan regional independence president Quim Torra to one and a half years of ineligibility for disobedience, leading to his dismissal and a risk of major political repercussions.

In its press release, the Supreme Court "confirms the one and a half year sentence of ineligibility of Quim Torra for an offense of disobedience."

Sentenced at first instance in December, Quim Torra had refused to obey "in a repeated and obstinate manner" the orders of the electoral authority ordering him to remove a banner with separatist content from the facade of the seat of the regional government before the parliamentary elections of 'April 2019, added the court.

Pere Aragones in interim

The confirmation of his conviction leads to the dismissal of Quim Torra from his post as president of Catalonia, a wealthy region in northeastern Spain with extended powers which was the scene in 2017 of an attempted secession.

In the crowd of the decision of the Supreme Court, the higher court of Catalonia, which sentenced him at first instance, called on Quim Torra to refrain "from today" (this Monday) from "exercising" his function and asked its vice-president Pere Aragones to act as interim head of the region.

Associations are stepping up to the plate

But Quim Torra's services clarified that they believed that the sentence would only be effective when the pro-independence leader had been personally informed.

This dismissal risks rekindling tensions in Catalonia, where the conviction in October 2019 of separatist leaders to prison for the 2017 secession attempt had led to numerous protests, some of which had degenerated into violence.

Immediately after the Supreme Court's decision, the powerful separatist associations ANC (Catalan National Assembly) and Omnium Cultural called on the separatists to gather this Monday at 7:00 p.m. in front of the town halls of the region.

"Let us defend the president, let us fight for independence", launched the ANC.

Tremor in Spain

Quim Torra's predecessor, Carles Puigdemont, for his part, blasted on Twitter "a corrupt state from the Crown to the bench", which "continues to decide on behalf of the Catalans".

“Once again, the Spanish state is interfering in our democratic institutions,” added the main figure in the 2017 secession attempt, who fled to Belgium to escape prosecution.

The Supreme Court's decision could also have major political repercussions in Spain, where the left-wing central government led by Pedro Sanchez may need the voices of Catalan separatists to get its budget approved to revive an economy in dire straits due to the Covid-19 crisis.

Freedom of speech ?

The open dialogue between central and regional governments on the Catalan crisis since the re-election of socialist Pedro Sanchez in January could also be undermined.

This dialogue, a condition for the support of part of the Catalan separatists for his inauguration by the parliament, was interrupted for many months due to the pandemic, but was to resume soon.

Quim Torra, who will also have to pay a fine of 30,000 euros, had put forward the freedom of expression to justify the display on the facade of the "Generalitat" (the regional government) of a sign calling for the release of the independence leaders in prison.

“Yes, I disobeyed,” he admitted.

"But that's because it was impossible to obey an illegal order," he added.

Once Quim Torra is removed from office, the regional parliament will have around two months to choose a new president, failing which new regional elections will have to be called amid deep divisions within the independence movement.

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