Artur Mas: Catalan president appears in Barcelona court

Thousands of supporters sang the Catalan anthem and chanted “Down with Spanish justice” outside the court as he faced charges of disobeying a court ban on the November 2014 vote.

Hundreds of regional mayors joined the protest at the Catalonia Supreme Court.

About 80% of people backed Catalan independence from Spain in the non-binding vote.

However turnout in Spain’s north-eastern region was not high, with only 2.2 million people voting out of an electorate of more than five million.
Spain’s central government in Madrid has pledged to challenge any unilateral moves towards independence in court, arguing it is against the constitution. National polls in Spain are to be held on 20 December.

The Catalan leader’s supporters argue the judicial case against him and two colleagues is politically motivated. As well as civil disobedience, he faces charges of misusing public funds for the vote.

He told the court he was completely responsible for the vote but said: “I don’t understand why I’m here giving explanations.”
Last month, pro-independence parties in Catalonia won a majority in regional elections but fell short of securing 50% of the vote.