“I will testify carrying the pro-independence flag”, stated Homs
this Thursday in a radio interview on Rac1, shortly after being informed
that he will also be investigated for helping to organise the 9-N
symbolic vote. The former Catalan Minister for the Presidency described
the whole case as “political” and lamented “the low democratic quality”
of the Spanish State. "What sort of message is this to the international
community?” he asked rhetorically. “By following this path we will
finish our process much sooner than some people may have thought,
because there is no way we can explain to the world that a democratic
state aims to imprison somebody for putting out the ballot boxes”, he
insisted. Thus, “the higher the charges, the quicker and the greater
Catalonia’s freedom will be”.
Homs, who is currently the leader of Catalan coalition ‘Democràcia i
Llibertat’ in the Spanish Parliament, assured that he is “not afraid” of
going to jail as he is “very convinced” about what he did on the 9-N in
2014, and assured that he is “willing to fight back against this
atrocity”.
Homs voluntarily testified before the Court in March
Last March, Homs voluntarily testified to Catalonia’s Supreme Court
(TSJC) in relation to the case. Back then, he already pointed out that
his investigation for co-organising the 9-N symbolic vote, which may be
referred to the Supreme Court, coincided with his responsibility as head
of Catalan coalition ‘Democràcia i Llibertat’ in the Spanish Parliament
and the ongoing negotiations in Madrid to form government. Therefore,
he stated that “60% or 70%” of the appeal presented responded to
“political” intentions.
Initially, Homs had to appear before the Supreme Court for having
signed a letter which authorised the company T-Systems, which provided
the computers used during the symbolic vote, to move on and continue
with the requested tasks, as the TC’s suspension didn’t affect the
organisation of the vote. Homs admitted his responsibility and
authorship of the letter but assured that the suspension of the
participative process by the Spanish Constitutional Court (TC) on the 4th of
November, five days before the vote took place, was “ambiguous” and,
therefore, neither him nor any of the members of the government at that
time can be accused of having disobeyed the suspension.
This Thursday the accusations of disobedience, perversion of justice
and misappropriation of public funds have been added to the inquiry.
These are the same charges for which former Catalan President Artur Mas,
former Vice-President Joana Ortega and former Catalan Minister of
Education Irene Rigau were also summonsed last October.
Mas, Rigau and Ortega inquiry back to the TSJC
Spain’s Supreme Court also announced that the ongoing investigation
into former Catalan President Artur Mas, former Vice-President Joana
Ortega and former Catalan Minister of Education Irene Rigau for
authorising and co-organising the 9-N symbolic vote will be conducted by
Catalonia’s Supreme Court (TSJC), the body which initially summonsed
them.
