Spain's Court of Auditors to try top politicians over independence push on November 17

Spain's Court of Auditors will try on November 17 some 30 Catalan political leaders during the past decade over the foreign action the Catalan government put forward between 2011 and 2017 and its links to the independence push that peaked in 2017.

Those who have been called to sit in the dock include former Catalan presidents Artur Mas and Carles Puigdemont, who has been in exile ever since late October 2017 and is not expected to appear in court unless he returns for the first time in six years before the set date.

Former vice president and economy minister, Oriol Junqueras, will also face the trial, as well as other high ranking officials during that time, including Albert Royo, former head of Diplocat public diplomacy entity.

The trial will focus on the expenses of the government in the years leading to the 2017 referendum in foreign action, which the judiciary suspects to be in reality efforts to get international support in the event of a split from Spain.

The public prosecutor believes €3.1 million were spent for those aims.

If Puigdemont does not return from exile by November 17, he will still be able to testify in the proceedings via video call, after his lawyer, Gonzalo Boye, requested it.

Boye also sought to leave the former leader out of the court, arguing that he has immunity as MEP, as well as former ministers Toni Comín and Clara Ponsatí, who will also face the trial. Yet, the court did not accept the petition.

The lawyer had also stated that after the Supreme Court trial on the 2017 referendum in 2019, the Court of Auditors is actually trying the same issue for the second time, but the argument was also dismissed and the trial will be held this autumn.