The High Court of Justice of Catalonia sentences Meritxell Serret to one year of disqualification

The High Court of Justice of Catalonia sentences her to 1 year of disqualification for her role as Minister of Agriculture during the 1 October independence referendum, after the trial took place on 29 March. The Court further sentences her to a fine of 12,000 euros. The Supreme Court, that asserted its jurisdiction to investigate the case against the leaders of the 1 October referendum, referred her case to the High Court due to her status as MP of the Parliament of Catalonia. Jesús María Barrientos and Carlos Ramos, asked not to be in the case, and alleged that “it could not be ignored” the precedent of the annulment of the judgment of the trial against the 1 October Bureau by the Supreme Court. Now, the Court finds that Serret was aware of the orders of the Constitutional Court on the matter, and knew she had to comply with them and nonetheless, omitted what she had been ordered. Therefore, considers that the culpability of Serret is beyond doubt, since she expressly accepted the facts for what she is accused, and because she clearly, repeatedly and blatantly disregarded the orders of the Constitutional Court. Serret announces that she will appeal the judgment and stays in her position of Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Catalan government.