Spanish court imposes €60k bail on Catalan leader

Esquerra Republicana head Marta Rovira tells judge that she asked president Puigdemont to call off independence referendum

Esquerra Republicana's leader Marta Rovira after her hearing at the Supreme Court (by Javier Barbancho)
Esquerra Republicana's leader Marta Rovira after her hearing at the Supreme Court (by Javier Barbancho) / ACN

ACN | Madrid

February 19, 2018 12:28 PM

The Spanish Supreme Court imposed bail of 60,000 euros on Catalan leader Marta Rovira after her hearing on Monday. Rovira, the head of Esquerra Republicana (ERC) party in the Catalan parliament, is under investigation along with 27 other people for her role in the political roadmap that led to a referendum and a declaration of independence last October.

Rovira told the judge that on referendum day she asked Catalan president Carles Puigdemont to call off the vote, one which the Spanish government vehemently opposed. Her request fell on deaf ears. According to Rovira, Puigdemont said that many people wanted to vote and that canceling the vote, if anything, would only make things worse.

On referendum day, the Spanish police cracked down on voters, leaving 1,066 injured, according to Catalan government figures.