Speaker defies Constitutional Court: 'We won't let censorship enter the Catalan parliament'

Roger Torrent, speaker of the Catalan parliament, has defied a warning from Spain’s Constitutional Court and maintained the process to pass a chamber resolution responding to the sentencing of 9 pro-independence leaders. 

Spain’s highest court has also issued a warning of the “criminal responsibilities” the Esquerra Republicana politician could incur for ignoring court orders, but Torrent fired back, saying “we won’t let censorship enter the Catalan parliament."

The Catalan parliament, with votes from the pro-independence parties, passed motions in the summer reaffirming the right to self-determination and abolishing the Spanish monarchy, arguing it is “outdated and anti-democratic.”

Last month these moves were challenged legally by Madrid, with acting government spokeswoman, Isabel Celáa, calling for the "immediate suspension" and "overturning" of the proposals.