Catalan media editors summoned for publishing of referendum ads

Several editors of Catalan newspapers and the president of the country’s public radio and television company (CCMA) appeared in Spain’s Guardia Civil police headquarters in Barcelona on Friday. They are being investigated for publishing Catalan government ads to promote turnout in the October 1 referendum during the weeks before the vote.

On September 15 some Spanish police officers entered several newsrooms in order to hand in judicial requests warning editors that they might face criminal charges if they publish referendum ads in their papers or on their websites. Spain’s Constitutional Court had ruled that any campaign to promote the referendum was illegal. However, some media went on showing the ad after the ruling, such as the Catalan public TV and radio stations.

The acting president of the company including these stations was one of those called upon on Friday to appear at Spain’s Guardia Civil headquarters in Barcelona. Other editors include the most-read newspaper in Catalonia, La Vanguardia, and El Punt Avui. Some days before September 15, Guardia Civil officers raided the newsroom of a weekly newspaper in southern Catalonia, El Vallenc.