Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy
For attempting to secede from Spain, eight Catalan ministers have been sent to prison over their roles in the incident.
Eight sacked Catalan ministers have been remanded in custody by a
Spanish high court judge over the region's push for independence.
Prosecutors had asked the judge to detain eight of the nine former
government members who turned up for questioning in Madrid.
They are accused of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds.
The state prosecutor has requested a European arrest warrant for ousted
Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont.
The request also covers four other dismissed Catalan ministers who
did not show up. Spain has been gripped by a constitutional crisis since
the referendum was held on 1 October in defiance of a constitutional
court ruling that had declared it illegal.
Last week, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy imposed direct rule
on Catalonia, dissolving the regional parliament and calling local
elections for 21 December.
This came after Catalan lawmakers voted to declare the independence
of the affluent north-eastern region. The Catalan government said that
of the 43% of potential voters who took part in the referendum, 90% were
in favour of independence.
Those detained include Deputy Vice President Oriol Junqueras,
Interior Minister Joaquim Forn, Foreign Affairs Minister Raül Romeva,
and Justice Minister Carles Mundó.
Former Business Minister Santi Vila was granted bail at the request
of prosecutors. He resigned before the Catalan parliament voted for
independence on Friday.
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