Spain crisis catalan ex parliament speaker forcadell court

You're referring to the ongoing political crisis in Catalonia, Spain. Here's a brief summary:

Background: In October 2017, Catalonia held a referendum on independence from Spain, which was declared illegal by the Spanish government. The majority of voters (92%) supported independence, but the turnout was lower than expected due to a boycott by many anti-independence voters.

Aftermath: The Catalan government, led by Carles Puigdemont, declared independence from Spain, which was met with resistance from the Spanish government. Puigdemont and several other Catalan leaders were arrested and charged with rebellion, sedition, and misuse of public funds.

Forcadell: Carme Forcadell was the Speaker of the Catalan Parliament at the time of the independence declaration. She was a key figure in the independence movement and was accused of facilitating the illegal referendum and the subsequent declaration of independence.

Court proceedings: Forcadell was arrested in March 2018 and charged with rebellion, sedition, and misuse of public funds. Her trial began in February 2020, and she was found guilty of disobedience and misuse of public funds, but acquitted of rebellion and sedition.

Sentence: Forcadell was sentenced to 11 years and 3 months in prison, as well as a fine of €30,000. She was also banned from holding public office for 10 years.

Reactions: The sentence was widely condemned by pro-independence groups and politicians, who saw it as an attack on democratic rights and the Catalan people. The Spanish government and many anti-independence politicians, on the other hand, saw the sentence as a necessary measure to uphold the rule of law and maintain the unity of Spain.

Ongoing crisis: The crisis in Catalonia is ongoing, with the Spanish government maintaining a hardline stance on independence and the Catalan government continuing to push for greater autonomy. The situation remains tense, with frequent protests and demonstrations on both sides of the issue.