Catalan speaker accuses Spain of ‘attacking free parliamentary debates’

The president of the Catalan parliament, Roger Torrent, criticized the trial against his predecessor, Carme Forcadell, who is likely to testify today, saying that the trial is one against democracy and against freedom of speech.

Speaking to the media ahead of the morning session of the Catalan Trial, Torrent questioned, “seriously, should we just conform to a democracy and a state that attacks free parliamentary debate?”

The parliament speaker also dismissed the Spanish police investigation that includes current Catalan president Quim Torra as “nonsense”, and accused the investigation as being another form of “repression.”

Òmnium VP calls it a proud day for the pro-independence group

Elsewhere, Òmnium vice president Marcel Mauri responded to King Felipe VI's statements that in Spain there is a “full democracy,” by saying, “in a full democracy Cuixart would not have to testify in this trial against democracy.”

The comments were made in a speech outside the doors of the Spanish Supreme Court, where president of the pro-independence group Òmnium, Jordi Cuixart, began his testimony this morning.

However, Mauri also wanted to emphasize that today is a proud day for Òmnium and its 140,000 members, as they have a president that will defend collective rights and freedoms according to Mauri, and that “will accuse the State of violating these fundamental principles.”

Mauri also went on to say that Cuixart should not defend himself for anything as he has not committed any crime.

Torra: "Historic defense of civil disobedience and non-violence"

The Catalan president, Quim Torra, commented on Cuixart's testimony right after it ended. As former president of Òmnium, he said he is "proud" of the current organization's president's defense of Catalonia’s right to self-determination.

"We have witnessed a historic defense of civil disobedience and non-violence," he said touched after having attended the courtroom.

 

"It's a trial against democracy"

Laura Castel, an Esquerra Republicana senator, has described the Catalan Trial as "a trial against democracy." In an interview with Catalan News on the morning of Carme Forcadell's testimony, Castel said that Forcadell is facing trial for "permitting a parliamentary debate."  

"In what democratic country is it forbidden to permit a debate about an ideology or a political item?" Castel questioned. "It's a question of democracy and a question of human rights."

 

he’s “proud” of Jordi Cuixart’s defense of Catalonia’s right to self-determination