Catalan president: 'Supreme Court confirms abomination'

The Catalan president, Quim Torra, has reacted to the Supreme Court opening the trial phase against 18 prosecuted leaders  saying that magistrates “confirm abomination.”

Torra said on Thursday afternoon that if the outcome of the trial is not the absolution for all of them, the Catalan people will respond with the same determination as on the October 1 referendum and the general strike two days later.

The pro-independence groups ERC and Junts per Catalunya have reacted in the same vein accusing Spain of having “no separation of powers.”

Spokespeople for both parties said in Parliament that the trial is a “disgrace” and criticize that the likely date when the prosecutor will announce the final charges against them, November 2, will coincide with the anniversary of some imprisonments of leaders.

Supreme Court opens trial phase

The Spanish Supreme Court officially opened the trial phase for the independence judicial case involving the events including the October 1 referendum and the subsequent declaration of independence on Thursday. 

This means magistrates have closed the inquiry and officially send 18 leaders to trial –while other 7 officials who are in exile won’t be tried so far.

The Supreme Court has given five days to the public and private prosecutors to have their final say on the case before the trial takes place.