Hundreds join Homs to the court
While Mas, Ortega and Rigau had to testify before Barcelona’s High
Court, Homs is facing the Spanish Supreme Court because he is currently a
member of the Spanish Congress. On his way to the court, Homs was
joined by 100 people. Amongst them, members of the Catalan Governments,
representatives from Homs’ party, PDeCAT’s and other political forces
such as left-wing pro-independence ERC and alternative left alliance ‘En
Comú Podem’. Representatives of the main pro-independence civil
associations, Catalan National Assembly (ANC), Òmniu Cultural, the
Association of Municipalities for Independence (AMI) and the Catalan
Association of Municipalities (ACM) were also there, representing the
citizens’ support for those politics who have been summonsed for
allowing the 9-N symbolic vote.
Homs lamented that the main institutions of the Spanish State have
acted copycatting People’s Party (PP) interests. He repeatedly stated
that the trial over the 9-N is a “political” case and not a judicial
one. “We have the feeling that the sentence has already been dictated,
even before listening to the parties involved”, the former Minister
stressed.
9-year ban from public office
The Prosecutor’s temporary conclusions stated that Homs “didn’t
suspend any of the articles which allowed the consultation to take place
and which were accountable to the Department of the Presidency” which
Homs led at that time. The document emphasises that former Catalan
President, Artur Mas’ right-hand man was “absolutely aware” that “by
doing so he violated the mandatory compliance of the Spanish
Constitutional Court’s decisions”.
When testifying in Barcelona, Homs explained that he was responsible
for the Government’s legal services and that besides this his being a
lawyer made him knowledgeable of the TC resolutions and the executive’s
responses.
According to Homs, when Mas suggested launching a participative
process rather than a referendum, at the sight of the TC’s ruling, the
Spanish Government reaction was one “of disdain” and he pointed out that
expressions such as “it has no effect” and “it is just a protest” were
used by the government in Madrid.
