June 11, Day 51 of Trial
CLOSING ARGUMENTS OF THE DEFENSE
– Andreu Van den Eynde, representing the former Catalan vice-president Oriol Junqueras and foreign minister Raül Romeva:
“I still don’t know when this uprising is taking place. The people did not go out to topple the state, they went to vote and protest. The defendants refused violence, no message where they promote it has been found. However, they have found many messages where the accused defend peace. It’s about knowing if a politician has the right to speak about self-determination. Freedom of expression also protects the opinions that hurt.”
Andreu Van den Eynde also referred to the trial verdict, which is expected to be announced sometime between July and October, as an “opportunity to resolve the conflict by returning the conflict to politics.”
– Xavier Melero, representing the former interior minister Joaquim Forn:
“The Catalan government breached its own declaration of independence and instead made provisions for the application of Article 155 [the suspension of self-rule in Catalonia]. I am aware that this may annoy some people.”
– Lawyer Pina, representing the former ministers Jordi Turull, Josep Rull and Jordi Sànchez:
“The passive resistance shown by citizens is incompatible with the concept of a public uprising.”
– Josep Riba, representing the former justice minister Carles Mundó, refuted the charge of misuse of public funds:
“There is no evidence that the Catalan government spent anything on the referendum logistics or ballot boxes.”
June 12, Day 52 of Trial
CLOSING ARGUMENTS OF THE DEFENSE
– Marina Roig, representing the President of the grassroots organization Òmnium Cultural, Jordi Cuixart:
“There is no democracy without democracy, and there is no democracy without citizen participation.”
She also said that “criminalizing public protest can have dangerous consequences for fundamental rights in Spain.”
– Olga Arderiu, representing the former speaker Carme Forcadell:
“The prosecutors emphasized in their final reports her role as pro-independence civic organization Catalan National Assembly (ANC)‘s president until 2015 – even though the events she is supposed to be tried for happened in 2017.”
She also complained that her client is facing a 17-year prison sentence for rebellion when the other former Catalan parliament bureau members are being prosecuted for disobedience, which does not carry prison time.
– Former Governance, Public Administration, and Housing Minister Meritxell Borràs’ lawyer rejected the allegations of misuse of public funds and complained of what she described as the prosecutors’ “bias.”
– Mariano Bergés, representing the former work, social affairs, and families minister Dolors Bassa:
“They intended to achieve independence by voting and through dialogue. What happened in September 2017 was not violence. The pro-independence demonstrations were always peaceful. ”
DEFENDANTS’ FINAL STATEMENTS
Former Catalan Vice-President Oriol Junqueras
“It’s time for the Catalan question to return to the political sphere of dialogue and negotiation, which it should never have left.”
Former Foreign Affairs Minister Raül Romeva
“Today it is us, tomorrow it could be anyone.”
Former Interior Minister Joaquim Forn
“The Catalan question can only ever be resolved through dialogue.”
Former President’s Office Minister Jordi Turull
“Decapitating us will not decapitate the independence movement or the desire for independence and self-determination in Catalonia.”
Former Territory and Sustainability Minister Josep Rull
“Self-determination is simple and transcendental. There will always be more people following us. There are not enough prisons to lock up our desire for freedom.”
Former Leader of the Pro-Independence Organization ANC Jordi Sànchez
“This is an enormous injustice, not only for me and for the other pro-independence prisoners but in general around Spain.”
Former Catalan Parliament Speaker Carme Forcadell
“I’m being judged for who I am, not the facts.”
Former Work, Social Affairs, and Families Minister Dolors Bassa
“Many generations to come will depend on this verdict, which has the potential to provide a solution.”
President of Pro-independence Grassroots Organization Òmnium Cultural Jordi Cuixart
“If police violence could not stop thousands of people from voting in the referendum, does anyone believe that a sentence will cause Catalans to stop fighting for their rights? I would do the same of what I am accused of again. We will do it again!”
Former Business Minister Santi Vila
“The government had been negotiating a possible legal alternative to independence declaration until the last minute.”
Former Governance, Public Administration, and Housing Minister Meritxell Borràs
“New politicians will come and the longing of a sizeable proportion of the Catalan people to decide how we want to fit into a modern Europe will continue.”
Former Justice Minister Carles Mundó
“Taking political issues to the courts does no favors to politics and nor does it help the judiciary”
Additional Information
– The verdict is expected to be announced sometime between the end of July and October.
– A harsh sentence would be seen as a dissuasive punishment for the leaders, and the whole independence camp, which would likely provoke indignation across Catalonia, which could lead to an indefinite general strike or even to a unilateral declaration of independence (UDI).
Josep Goded 