Foreign ministry denounces 'violation of fundamental rights' on Court of Audits investigation

The Catalan foreign affairs ministry has denounced a "violation of fundamental rights" by Spain's Court of Audits, which will vote a report on the foreign action displayed by the Catalan government between 2011 and 2017.

The Court of Audits might rule that some trips of Catalan officials abroad and events on the conflict between Catalonia and Spain constitutes misuse of public funds. According to 'El País' newspaper, the amount in question could be €7.3 million.  

A preliminary report by the institution sent to the Catalan authorities in December 2018 already hinted this view, and the foreign ministry sent some allegations which the Catalan News Agency (ACN) has seen.

"It is not understandable that the Court of Audits forgets the rulings of Spain's Constitutional Court on the extent of the fundamental rights to consider, without more arguments, that taking part in public debates on controversial issues involves, automatically, diverting public funds to private goals," the allegations read.

"Preventing the administrations to debate or order studies is the same as liquidating its own essence."

In the allegations, Catalonia's foreign affairs department says that "ministers of the Spanish government have also taken part in international forums defending Spain's stance in the political conflict with Catalonia."

"With this, it leads one to think that one can only take part in public debates when defending a position which the Court of Audits considers appropriate," adds the appeal.