There are phrases that end up becoming engraved in time as moments of clarity. As moments when there is suddenly confirmation of an idea that, until then, had been in the air, but lacked irrefutable proof. Here's an example: when Jorge Fernández Díaz, Spain's interior minister at the time, let it slip to the ex-director of the Anti-Corruption Office of Catalonia, Daniel de Alfonso (while immersed in the invention of evidence against the Catalan independence movement) that "the prosecutor will polish that up for you." The recordings of their conversations, probably made by some team from the same part of the state machinery, later came to light, and made it possible to put down in black and white something that was already manifest: the connivance between the political and judicial powers.
When Miquel Iceta, leader of the Catalan Socialists (PSC), stated on Saturday that the political atmosphere could influence the trial of the political prisoners and the resulting verdicts; when he affirmed that, as a result, the independence movement must decide if it wants to reach the date of the trial amidst an ambience of hostility and rupture, we were able to confirm something that unfortunately we already knew: the trial will be a farce.
Iceta is not a novice politician, nor does he let himself be led by momentary impulses, make no mistake. He knew what he was saying: if the independence movement pulls back, if it forgets the mobilizations, the referendum on October 1st last year, and the proclamation of the Catalan Republic made by Parliament (and not implemented by the government), then the judge's verdict on the imprisoned ministers, the former parliamentary speaker Carme Forcadell and the civil group leaders Jordi Sánchez and Jordi Cuixart may be kinder. In other words: be careful.
We will soon know if Iceta, who is not one to make stabs in the dark, has spoken too late or, on the contrary, if his threats end up changing the script. Historically, Catalonia's Diada celebration on September 11th has had a strongly cohesive effect on the independence movement. Iceta has already made it clear that the trial will be a political one - that was obvious from the beginning - and the political prisoners in the jails of Lledoners, Puig de les Basses and El Catllar have also long been aware that the verdict was written well in advance and that it was not going to be good news. That is why the long term strategies in Lledoners, the prison holding most of the political prisoners, are begin to converge.