Trial of parliament bureau members postponed again

Spain’s High Court in Catalonia (TSJC) has postponed the trial of the parliament bureau members who allowed lawmakers to vote on bills setting a legal framework for Catalan independence.

The trial was originally due to start on November 19, but the court temporarily suspended it alleging the "incompatibility of agendas" of the defense lawyers, and was to set a new date between November 28 and December 3.

Yet, one of the officials accused became a Spanish MP after the November 10 election, Joan Josep Nuet, meaning he now enjoys a prerogative and can only be tried in the Supreme Court.

Catalonia's high court will make a decision on whether the case should be split, and will announce the new trial date.

Apart from Nuet, the accused are former bureau members Lluís Corominas, Anna Simó, Ramona Barrufet, and Lluís Guinó, as well as the former MP for the far-left CUP party, Mireia Boya.

They all face charges of disobedience, for which they could be temporarily banned from holding public office but will not go to prison.

Their case could be influenced by the Supreme Court verdict in the trial of the leaders of the 2017 independence bid, including former government members, activists, and the former speaker of the Catalan parliament.

Nine of the 2017 independence leaders behind the bid to split from Spain are serving 9 to 13 years in jail on sedition charges.

The events two years ago have led to four different cases, tried at different courts and with dozens of officials, activists, and police officers accused.