Aragonès makes use of his right not to take the stand due to the fact that he is under investigation from court number 13
The vice-president chose not to take the stand in case he is ultimately on trial before the High Court of Justice of Catalonia
One of the unknown points of the day was whether or not the vice-president of the Generalitat and person in charge of the Economy, Pere Aragonès, would give his witness statement. He ultimately did not do so after the Court accepted his request not to do so as long as the case in Court 13 of Barcelona has not been definitively dismissed.
When questioned by the presiding magistrate of the second courtroom of the Supreme Court, Manuel Marchena, Aragonès replied that he would not give testimony.
"Marchena: If you state that you do not wish to give testimony, we are done here.
Aragonès: I hereby state that I do not wish to give testimony.
Marchena: We are done, then."
At the doors of the Supreme Court, Aragonès explained to the media that he did not want to give statement because he is under investigation by investigating court number 13 of Barcelona, and the High Court of Justice of Catalonia has been requested to bring charges against him with regard to the 1-O referendum.
Aragonès complained about the political nature of the case which is intended, according to him, to make "a political position in favour of independence" into a judicial issue:
"The breakup of the case, the fact that the same facts are being judged in different courts, highlights the political nature of this case. This is a politically motivated case. It is intended to put a political programme, a political position in favour of the independence of Catalonia on trial. We will defend the independence of Catalonia here and throughout the world because we are convinced that the independence of Catalonia is the best thing that can happen to our country in order to administer its resources and make its own decisions as an adult society."
Aragonès asked the Supreme Court to allow him not to give statement in the Catalan independence trial by stating that he is currently under investigation from court number 13 of Barcelona. And, in view of this legal situation, his intention was to make use of his right not to answer questions from the parties as a witness. This includes those from Vox, who requested him as a witness.
Court number 13 of Barcelona referred the investigation of Pere Aragonès in relation to 1-O to the High Court of Justice of Catalonia due to the fact that he is entitled to exemption. However, even though said court has not brought charges against him, it left the door open to do so later on based on how the investigation of court number 13 progressed.
Other witnesses in the Catalan independence trial, who are under investigation in other open cases, have previously made use of their right not to give testimony.
