Former Catalan Leader Convicted Over 2014 Vote on Independence
- Mas barred from public office for two years by Barcelona court
- Separatist parties aim to hold another referendum this year
Artur Mas, former Catalan president, stands in front of Catalan independence flags waved by his supporters after visiting the Catalan high court in Barcelona on Feb. 6, 2017.
Photographer: Pau Barrena/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Former Catalan President Artur Mas was barred from public office for two years by a court in Barcelona for organizing an illegal vote on the independence in 2014.
Mas was also fined 36,500 euros ($39,000) for holding the referendum in defiance of the Spanish courts, according to a verdict the High Court of Catalonia distributed by email. Two of his officials, Joana Ortega and Irene Rigau, were also convicted with Ortega barred 21 months and Rigau barred for 18 months as well as receiving lesser fines.