Catalan administration files appeal to return Sixena artworks to Lleida

The Catalan administration filed an appeal to the Court of Huesca, in the Spanish region of Aragon, to demand the return of the Sixena works of art to the Museum of Lleida. The Catalan administration’s lawyer considered that the removal of the 43 pieces had been done “without respecting the legally established process.”

Shortly after, the Spanish Culture minister asked to withdraw the appeal, as he said that it’s been done so without his consent. After the enforcement of Article 155 of the Spanish constitution by the Spanish government, the Spanish Culture minister, Íñigo Méndez de Vigo, is the head of the Catalan Culture ministry.

De Vigo stated that he knew that the Catalan administration had filed an appeal through the media. He also said that “there’s no point” in appealing against the judicial order, as the removal of the works has already been carried out. 

Operation violates Catalan Heritage Law and Spanish constitution

According to the appeal filed by the lawyer, the judicial order that allowed Spain’s Guardia Civil to enter the museum could violate up to three articles of the Spanish constitution and the Catalan Heritage Law.

The lawyer of the Catalan administration stressed that it was a "violation of the procedural norms", as the authorization of the museum’s owner is required to enter. According to him, the operation that was carried out to remove the arts of work exceeded the judicial order  

Catalan administration is “defenceless”

The appeal filed before the Court of Huesca emphasized that a "serious procedural infringement" has been committed. In addition, it states that the Catalan administration is defenceless, as it couldn’t file an appeal before the operation in the Museum of Lleida was carried out.