The postponement request
Gonzalo Boye, the lawyer of Josep Lluís Alay, has requested the magistrate Manuel García-Castellón to postpone the statements of those investigated by Tsunami Democràtic, initially scheduled for May 22. This request is based on the fact that on the same day, Alay has to appear in a trial that was already fixed previously. It is usual that, if one of the parties requests it, the date of the interrogations can be changed, and in this case, Alay’s defense has requested this postponement because the lawyer will not be able to attend the defendants’ statements. The Magistrate of the National Court should have no problem accepting this request.
Those investigated and the time gained
This postponement provides the 10 investigated for terrorism in the National Court additional time, as the approval of the amnesty law in the Congress of Deputies, scheduled for May 30, approaches. The defense lawyers assure that the amnesty law should lead to the closure of the Tsunami case, since it is linked to the causes of the Process. However, the final decision rests with the judge.
Criticisms and questionable actions
The head of the central court of inquiry 6 of the National Court has received criticism from pro-independence parties and entities because of his movements in relation to the Tsunami case. The decision to indict 12 people for the crime of terrorism, including the president-in-exile Carles Puigdemont and the general secretary of ERC, Marta Rovira, after having the cause dormant since 2019, has been questioned. In addition, the Prosecutor’s Office opposes classifying the Tsunami mobilizations as terrorism, stating that at most there was public disorder.
Statements by video conference and future actions
The investigating magistrate of the Supreme Court, Susana Polo, has proposed that Carles Puigdemont and ERC deputy Ruben Wagensberg testify voluntarily and by videoconference in the week of June 17, since they are abroad. This decision has generated controversy among the private prosecutions. On the other hand, judge García-Castellón has allowed the 10 defendants from Tsunami to testify by video conference from a court in Barcelona, although at least four of them are in Switzerland to avoid this imputation which they consider political and unfounded .