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Reuters
MADRID
Spanish far-right party Vox has an active role in the trial of Catalan separatist leaders, seizing the opportunity to make political capital out of its fervent opposition to the independence movement.
Defendants are refusing to take their questions and one witness even walked out of the courtroom in protest.
Under the Spanish legal system, anyone can become a co-accuser - also known as a people’s prosecutor - and take part in court proceedings in such trials.
The Vox party, a newcomer to the Spanish political scene, has made use of this peculiarity to take on a role in the high-profile televised trial of the Catalan separatist leaders over their region’s failed independence bid in 2017.
Twelve are on trial on charges ranging from rebellion to misuse of funds, which they deny. They were arrested and jailed after Catalonia’s regional authorities organized a referendum, deemed illegal by a Spanish court, then unilaterally declared independence in October 2017.
Vox, whose platform strongly opposes any concessions to regions, made its presence known on the national scene when it won seats in Andalucian elections in 2018.
MADRID
Spanish far-right party Vox has an active role in the trial of Catalan separatist leaders, seizing the opportunity to make political capital out of its fervent opposition to the independence movement.
Defendants are refusing to take their questions and one witness even walked out of the courtroom in protest.
Under the Spanish legal system, anyone can become a co-accuser - also known as a people’s prosecutor - and take part in court proceedings in such trials.
The Vox party, a newcomer to the Spanish political scene, has made use of this peculiarity to take on a role in the high-profile televised trial of the Catalan separatist leaders over their region’s failed independence bid in 2017.
Twelve are on trial on charges ranging from rebellion to misuse of funds, which they deny. They were arrested and jailed after Catalonia’s regional authorities organized a referendum, deemed illegal by a Spanish court, then unilaterally declared independence in October 2017.
Vox, whose platform strongly opposes any concessions to regions, made its presence known on the national scene when it won seats in Andalucian elections in 2018.
