Spain courts open 2 new cases against Catalan politicians

MADRID – Spanish courts have opened cases against two more Catalan politicians for allegedly disobeying court orders related to the region’s push to gain independence from Spain.

Spain’s constitutional Court on Thursday called on prosecutors to investigate if Catalan Parliament Speaker Carme Forcadell committed a crime in July by allowing the parliament to approve a resolution expressing Catalonia’s intent to press ahead with secession.

The Supreme Court, meanwhile, announced Thursday it has launched proceedings against Francesc Homs, a Catalan deputy in Spain’s parliament, for his alleged role in the staging of a non-binding November 2014 referendum on the region’s secession after the constitutional Court suspended the balloting.

Artur Mas, former president of Catalonia’s regional government, and two other officials already face trial for their alleged roles in the referendum.