Catalan leader risks 30 years in prison

The Spanish prosecutor's office announced that it will prosecute Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont for rebellion.

Mr. Carles Puigdemont after the working session of the Catalan parliament on October 27. Photo: AFP.

"Prosecutors will file a case against Carles Puigdemont on charges of rebellion next week," he said.A spokesman for the Spanish Prosecutor's Office said on October 27, according to AFP.

A Spanish court will then consider charges of rebellion against Mr Puigdemont.Under Spanish law, this crime carries a prison sentence of up to30 years.

Other members of the Catalan parliament and government could be prosecuted on similar charges,the spokesman added.

The announcement by the Spanish Prosecutor's Office came after the Catalan parliament voted on October 27 to declare the creation of the Catalan state with 70 votes in favor, 10 against and two abstentions. Some opposition lawmakers left the parliament before the vote in protest.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rojoy later announced the dismissal of the Catalan premier and cabinet and the dissolution of the Catalan parliament after being granted the right by the Senate to activate Article 155 of the constitution to strip the autonomous region of its powers.

On October 1, 90% of the 2.26 million Catalan voters who cast ballots in a referendum agreed to secede from Spain. Mr Puigdemont then declared independence but postponed it to negotiate with Madrid.

According to VNE