Page 10 - ARUBA TODAY

A10 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 7 February 2017
Ex-Catalan leader on trial for holding vote on independence

IAIN SULLIVAN town Barcelona before the
ARITZ PARRA court appearance.
The Associated Press Protesters formed a
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — 200-meter corridor in the
The former head of Catalo- last stretch leading to Cat-
nia’s regional government alonia’s High Court, cheer-
and two of his aides went ing and waving unofficial
on trial Monday in Barce- flags of independence.
lona for ignoring a Con- “We shall overcome” was
stitutional ban and going the slogan on some ban-
ahead with a vote on the ners in English, with a gi-
region’s independence gantic display reading
from Spain. “Love democracy.”
The five-day trial is likely to Mas declined to answer
inflame longstanding ten- questions from the pros-
sions between the central ecution during Monday’s
government and the sup- hearing. In replies to in-
porters of separatism in the quiries by his own de-
wealthy northeastern re- fense lawyers, he blamed
gion of 7.5 million people. Spain’s central authorities
Artur Mas, who stepped for not doing more to stop
down as president of the the vote.
regional government last Former President of the Catalan regional Government Artur Mas, center, waves to the crowd as He said his cabinet’s aim
year, faces a 10-year ban he arrives next to former Education Minister Irene Rigaua, left, and former Vice President Joana “wasn’t holding a vote
from holding public of- Ortega at the Catalonia’s high court in Barcelona, Spain, Monday, Feb. 6, 2017. Thousands took that was immediately le-
fice for disobedience and the streets of Barcelona Monday to accompany the three Catalan politicians as they walked to a gally binding but rather
wrongdoing. high court where they faced charges for disobeying a Constitutional order two years ago banning knowing people’s opinion
a vote on the region’s independence.
Prosecutors are also calling (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) after massive protests in
for fines and a nine-year past years.”
disqualification from poli- Polls consistently show that
tics for former regional vice 80 percent of the 2.3 million days earlier, but Mas and did the right thing,” Mas residents in Catalonia who
president Joana Ortega Catalans who cast a ballot other officials gathered said Sunday. “We would do want to break from Spain
and education councilor voted to support creating support from more than the same thing again.” are a minority, although
Irene Rigau, both accused a Catalonian state inde- 40,000 volunteers who On Monday, indepen- the ranks of those who do
in the same case of aiding pendent from Spain. opened schools and in- dence supporters staged want a vote on separatism
with the November 2014 The mock referendum was stalled voting stations. a show of force, with thou- have been swelling since
vote. deemed illegal by Spain’s “We are holding our head sands accompanying the the 2008 economic crisis.
Organizers at the time said Constitutional Court five high, convinced that we defendants through down- Some lifelong secessionists
argue that only a separate
Romania PM: Catalan state could pro-
tect their culture and their
I may fire justice minister over contentious graft decree language— which is spo-
ken side by side with Span-
ish. In defiance of the Con-
ALISON MUTLER among Romanians. Grin- gathering outside the presi- said he supported the gov- stitutional ban and a fierce
Associated Press deanu suggested Justice dential palace in the Ro- ernment, but by evening opposition by Spain’s rul-
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) Minister Florin Iordache manian capital blaming he said he would back the ing conservative Popu-
— Romania’s prime minis- may lose his job over the President Klaus Iohannis for premier if Grindeanu de- lar Party, a new regional
ter said Monday he may move within days. the crisis. The president has cides to sack the justice government in Catalonia
fire the justice minister for Although the government strongly opposed the ordi- minister. has promised to pass laws
mishandling a contentious repealed the measure Sun- nance. There were signs Monday to enable a legally bind-
decree that has sparked day, the unrest its move “In the next two days, I that the government may ing referendum later this
the country’s largest anti- sparked continued Mon- won’t (fire him),” the prime not push ahead immedi- year. But it’s unclear how a
government protests since day. Thousands of people minister said, noting that ately with the measure to new vote would be differ-
communism ended. gathered outside the gov- the government could be ease anti-corruption laws. ent from the 2014 vote that
Premier Sorin Grindeanu ernment offices for the sev- toppled if a motion of no- Mass demonstrations have was only seen as symbolic.
said the emergency de- enth consecutive evening, confidence to be debated been held in Bucharest The national government
cree to decriminalize some yelling “Resignation!” and this week passes in Parlia- and other cities since the has said that no vote will be
official misconduct ap- waving Romanian flags. ment. ordinance was introduced allowed and has pledged
proved by his cabinet last Elsewhere, hundreds of Social Democratic chair- on Tuesday and approved to boost investments in
week had “led to division” government supporters man Liviu Dragnea earlier early Wednesday.q Catalonia. q