Spanish Guardia Civil questions two Government officials about referendum

The legal pressure on the Catalan government over its intention to hold an independence referendum on October 1 continued on Wednesday, when two officials were questioned by Spanish Guardia Civil officers at the Travessera de Gràcia police station in Barcelona. Joaquim Nin, Secretary General of the Minister of the Presidency, and Jordi Graells, Managing Director of the Citizen Information Office, were asked to give witness statements for a lawsuit in Barcelona, confirmed police sources, although they did not specify which court case. However, it was confirmed that the statements are part of the investigation into alleged illegal activity on behalf of the Catalan government, known as the ‘Vidal case’.

In recent weeks, Guardia Civil officers have interviewed Catalan government employees in relation to the website of the National Pact for the Referendum, and about the executive’s campaign to encourage Catalans resident abroad to register to vote. Moreover, according to government sources, Spanish Guardia Civil officers also visited one of the companies involved in the tender process to supply ballot boxes for the referendum, while Guardia Civil officers also appeared at the National Theater of Catalonia (TNC) to demand information about an event held by the Together for Yes (JxSí) coalition to present the referendum legislation.