Former Catalan labour minister, Dolors Bassa, currently in pretrial detention for her role in the 2017 independence push, has asked the pro-independence parties to not let Pedro Sánchez's government fall, arguing that the alternative of PP, Cs and the far right is "much worse". The minister was speaking in an interview to be broadcast this Tuesday evening on the programme No ho sé on radio station Rac1. She also urged the Spanish government to make a gesture to enable them to pass the budget.
"Currently, I wouldn't give him a decisive 'no' to his budget, but nor would I pass it. We cannot let Pedro Sánchez's government fall. The alternative is much worse with PP, Ciudadanos and the far right. If they want to pass [the budget], they should make a gesture. Any gesture, but they should make one," she said.
Revealing a date
In the interview, Bassa says she understand that they will be moved to Madrid for their trial any day now. And there is one date she does know: 6th February. She says she's aware that there are witnesses already summonsed by prosecutors to appear that day. As such, the trial has to have started by that point. Currently, the prisoners have until 14th January to present their final pretrial defence filings.
The minister also discussed the protests expected to come during the trial, expressing hope they won't eclipse the prisoners' testimony. She believes the focus should be on the defence of the political prisoners and as such urged the Catalan government and civil society organisations to take the initiative organising the events and to plan them in detail.
"During the trial there will be many demonstrations, but I hope and wish they'll be coordinated", the minister says, adding that she wouldn't like it if "the gatherings cover or damage everything said in the trial".
"We should be the protagonists", she said, because "the trial will have a great impact and international observers will come; it's a window we'll have, because so far we've heard the accusations from one side and we still haven't been able to explain our version". She added that she expects nothing other than acquittal from the trial.