Share

Spain prosecutors target Catalan chief in disobedience case

Share

MADRID (AP) — Prosecutors in Spain are bringing charges of disobedience against Catalan regional president Quim Torra after he allegedly failed to comply with orders from the country’s electoral board, while Torra launched his own legal action against Madrid-based authorities.

Prosecutors said in a statement Wednesday the charges relate to Torra’s alleged failure to remove eye-catching pro-independence symbols from the regional government’s headquarters in Barcelona before Spain’s April 28 general election.

The electoral board deemed the yellow ribbon symbols to be an unacceptable “tool of political propaganda.” Elected officials and public institutions are prohibited from expressing support for one particular party or ideological position during a campaign period.

The yellow ribbon symbol is used to express support for Catalan separatist leaders who have been prosecuted for their role in a failed attempt to declare independence in 2017 or have gone into self-imposed exile.

Torra argued the symbols are a matter of free speech and requested a postponement of the deadline to remove them.

Later Wednesday, Torra in turn launched legal action against members of the electoral board, accusing them of “prevarication” — a legal term indicating an attempt or scheme to pervert the truth.

Torra and his pro-secession allies have been a thorn in the side of the national government, refusing to drop their demands for Catalonia’s independence despite repeated legal setbacks. The Spanish Constitution says Spain is indivisible.

Judges will assess the evidence provided by state prosecutors and Torra’s lawyer before deciding whether to proceed to trial.

The Western Journal has not reviewed this Associated Press story prior to publication. Therefore, it may contain editorial bias or may in some other way not meet our normal editorial standards. It is provided to our readers as a service from The Western Journal.

Truth and Accuracy

Submit a Correction →



We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.

Tags:
Share
The Associated Press is an independent, not-for-profit news cooperative headquartered in New York City. Their teams in over 100 countries tell the world’s stories, from breaking news to investigative reporting. They provide content and services to help engage audiences worldwide, working with companies of all types, from broadcasters to brands. Photo credit: @AP on Twitter
The Associated Press was the first private sector organization in the U.S. to operate on a national scale. Over the past 170 years, they have been first to inform the world of many of history's most important moments, from the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and the bombing of Pearl Harbor to the fall of the Shah of Iran and the death of Pope John Paul.

Today, they operate in 263 locations in more than 100 countries relaying breaking news, covering war and conflict and producing enterprise reports that tell the world's stories.
Location
New York City




Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. Advertise Today.

Conversation