Relatives ready for the worst in trial

They are pleased with the testimony given by their relatives, and how they refuted the accusations against them, but they are also expecting the worst in the trial of independence leaders in the Supreme Court. “We’re ready for the moments of happiness, but we never forget that the verdict may already be decided,” says Montse Bassa, the sister of the former labour minister. The relatives of the political prisoners are aware that after the testimony of Òmnium president, Jordi Cuixart, and the former parliament speaker, Carme Forcadell, on Tuesday, will come that of the witnesses, such as Mariano Rajoy and Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría, and a long list of Guardia Civil officers, while the far-right Vox party will also enter the scene as a private prosecutor in the case.

“There is clearly a lot of collective euphoria because so far only we have spoken. They seemed very calm and confident to us and the public were looking forward to seeing them. As right is on our side it is easy to fall into a positive dynamic, but now we’ll get to see the witnesses and Vox. There is still plenty of the trial to go,” says Diana Riba, partner of former foreign minister, Raül Romeva. “I don’t know if the verdict is already decided, it depends so much on what is happening outside the courtroom that perhaps it won’t be what we think.,” she adds.

They also point to the large amount of evidence and witnesses for the defence not admitted by the court. “We are not complacent nor resigned,” says Meritxell Lluís, head of the Associació Catalana pels Drets Civils, and partner of former territory minister, Josep Rull.

In any case, the family members celebrate the fact that the prisoners refuted the “alleged arguments” of the prosecution. “They have shown that the prosecution’s narrative does not stand up and that voting is not a crime,” says Lluís. “[The prosecutors] are no doubt very good but they have no arguments,” adds Riba.