Spain's National Court orders police to locate whereabouts of Catalan pro-independence MP

Ruben Wagensberg temporarily moved to Switzerland as he faces terrorism charges for protest actions

Catalan MP for pro-independence Esquerra Ruben Wagensberg in the Catalan Parliament on 2021
Catalan MP for pro-independence Esquerra Ruben Wagensberg in the Catalan Parliament on 2021 / Maria Asmarat
Catalan News

Catalan News | @catalannews | Barcelona

February 5, 2024 03:47 PM

The Spanish National Court judge in charge of investigating the Tsunami Democràtic case, Manuel García-Castellón, has asked police to verify whether the Catalan MP for pro-independence Esquerra Republicana, Ruben Wagensberg, is residing at his home in Catalonia.   

Wagensberg announced last week that he had temporarily moved to Switzerland after being linked to an investigation into the activist group Tsunami Democràtic, whose members could face terrorism charges.

If Spanish police confirm that Wagensberg is not in the country, Manuel García-Castellón will ask Swiss police authorities to locate the politician.

In the text, García-Castellón also pointed out that the protests that occurred in 2019 "may be classified as crimes that could constitute a serious disturbance of public peace."

Tsunami Democràtic investigation

Judge Manuel García-Castellón is investigating the actions of Tsunami Democràtic, a Catalan pro-independence activist group responsible for organizing massive demonstrations after the Catalan pro-independence movement leaders were sententced in October 2019.

The judge is seeking terrorism charges against the organizers, including former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont, considering Tsunami Democràtic a "structured and hierarchical organization" with the aim of "subverting Spain's constitutional order and destabilizing the state economically and politically through massive social protests."

On Monday, the judge extended his investigation for six months, saying there were still some aspects of the case to be investigated. Among the missing elements, he cited the questioning of the relatives of the French tourist who died of a heart attack during the group's occupation of Barcelona Airport in October 2019. 

In November, Spain's public prosecutor ruled out bringing terrorism charges against Puigdemont and Rovira but last week García-Castellón continued in his attempts to ensure the pro-independence figures are excluded from the amnesty law