The Catalan president, Quim Torra, has stated he will not pay the €8,500 for three fines imposed by the Central Electoral Commission (JEC), and has announced that he will appeal.
The JEC announced this Monday a €3,000 fine on the Catalan president for refusing to remove the yellow ribbons from Catalan government buildings during campaigning for this year's general election. The JEC also asked for the Catalan president to be banned from office for one year and eight months for the same alleged crime.
The Commission later announced further fines of €2,500 and €3,000 against president Torra. The first one is for his speech on St George's Day this year which, according to the JEC, did not abide by the principle of "institutional neutrality" required during the electoral period. The second fine is for having committed a violation of the neutrality required from the authorities, again, in the weeks before the elections.
Speaking to the media this Monday, Torra stated: "I am not going to pay them. Freedom of expression is at stake in the Spanish State now. We will be consistent and shall continue to exercise freedom of expression every time it is punished".
He was also unrepentant about the declarations for which he has been fined: "I confirm that article 155 [suspension of Catalan self-government by Madrid] was devastating and that yes, there are political prisoners". Those were the points the Commission took issue with in his St George's Day speech and a letter he sent to civil servants that same day.
The president also has a legal case open against him for disobedience relating to his refusal to remove the yellow ribbons.