Banned Catalan leader can't stand for EU Parliament either, says Spanish Court

Spain's Supreme Court dismissed Francesc Hom's appeal on Thursday to the sentence which banned him from holding political office for having allowed a symbolic vote on independence in 2014. Homs was former Catalan President Artur Mas’right-hand man. Homs, who was an MP for Catalan European Democratic Party (PDeCAT) in the Spanish Parliament at the time of the sentence had to leave his seat last week after the court banned him from holding public office for a period of 18 months. The magistrates have now added that he can’t stand for the European Parliament either, since the ban “applies to all areas”. Former Catalan President, Artur Mas and former Catalan Ministers Irene Rigau and Joana Ortega were also fined and banned from public office for the same case, which is regarded as a political action against Catalonia’s pro-independence aspirations.  

Former Catalan Minister for Presidency and PDeCAT MP in the Spanish Parliament, Francesc Homs (by ACN)
Former Catalan Minister for Presidency and PDeCAT MP in the Spanish Parliament, Francesc Homs (by ACN) / ACN

ACN

April 6, 2017 04:24 PM

Barcelona (CNA).- Former Catalan President Artur Mas’right-hand man, Francesc Homs, was forced to leave his seat as Catalan European Democratic Party (PDeCAT) MP in the Spanish Parliament at the behest of Spain’s Supreme Court. The magistrates had banned him from public office for 18 months for allowing a symbolic vote on independence in 2014. This Thursday, the court not only rejected Hom's appeal but informed him that he can’t stand for the European Parliament either since the ban “applies to all areas”. Homs said in a press conference right after having received the notice that the court’s decision proves that in Spain “supporting certain ideas in a democratic and peaceful way has penal consequences”. He said that it was not only he who was banned from the Spanish Parliament “but thousands of citizens who trust in democracy”.


According to the court, Homs was fully aware that he was ignoring a Spanish Constitutional Court (TC) ruling when he allowed the non-binding referendum to proceed in 2014. This is a crime which “can’t be ignored by criminal law,” the magistrates said.

The court’s decision proves that in Spain “supporting certain ideas in a democratic and peaceful way has penal consequences,” Homs said in a press conference, right after having received the notice. He said that it was not only he who was banned from the Spanish Parliament “but thousands of citizens who trust in democracy”. 

This Wednesday, a week after giving up his seat in the Spanish Parliament, Homs was replaced by fellow PDeCAT member, Feliu Gillaumes. In his oath of office before the members of the Chamber, he swore allegiance as required by law and added “and by the court”. “That was for you, Quico,” Guillaumes added, addressing Homs.