Catalan leaders could be barred from office before trial, says Spanish minister

Carles Puigdemont and the Catalan leaders facing criminal charges for attempting to become independent from Spain could be barred from holding public office before their trials start, has said the Spanish justice minister, Rafael Catalá. That would effectively sweep away some of the key figures in Catalonia’s independence movement in one go.

According to Catalá, Spain’s Criminal Prosecution Law (Ley de Enjuiciamiento Criminal) allows the Supreme Court—currently investigating 28 pro-independence leaders—to suspend officials facing charges of rebellion.

“There could be a suspension from holding public office very soon, which could remove these people from the political landscape and make them unable to carry out political activities,” said Catalá in an interview with a Spanish TV channel on Thursday.