Catalan Independence
A Spanish court has ordered former Catalan leader Artur Mas to repay the costs of organizing an illegal vote on independence four years ago.
Mr Mas and nine other former officials have to repay €4.9m of public funds.
The independence consultation of 9 November 2014 was a forerunner of last year’s disputed referendum.
Carles Puigdemont, who succeeded Mr Mas and now lives in self-imposed exile in Belgium, condemned the court ruling.
Writing on Twitter, he described it as “an abuse and an unworthy arbitrary act”, and likened Spain’s new Socialist Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, to his conservative predecessor, Manual Rajoy.
Artur Mas staged the 2014 vote after failing to get the Spanish authorities to allow a full referendum. He defied an order by the Constitutional Court to suspend the ballot, which it later ruled illegal.
The Court of Auditors ruled yesterday that Mr Mas had overall responsibility to repay the total amount, with interest, but the other former officials must contribute.
The accusations include the use of public funds to buy 7,000 computers for use in polling stations, and to pay for a website and advertising.
Post Brexit
Politicians and passengers have accused British Airways of bailing out of the UK ahead of Brexit after it was claimed the carrier could relocate to Madrid.
The firm is seeking help from the Spanish government to ensure its planes can keep flying across the EU in the event of a no-deal exit.
Labour deputy leader Tom Watson said that BA should be renamed ‘Spanish Airways’ if they have to move senior staff from the UK to Spain next year.
Leaked letters show high level talks between Spain’s Ministry of Development and the European Commission started a month ago over doubts BA’s owner International Airlines Group will keep its EU airline status.
Brussels has already warned airlines they may have to relocate to the continent or sell UK-based shares to European citizens to remain part of the European Open Skies deal.
But IAG, which is run by Willie Walsh, has denied it would move its headquarters from London to Madrid to satisfy the EU.
Real Madrid
Real Madrid registered Santiago Solari as its coach yesterday because Spanish league regulations prohibit a club from having an interim coach for more than two weeks.
Madrid has not said whether it stopped looking for a full-time replacement for Julen Lopetegui, who was fired on Oct. 29.
Solari, a former Madrid player, was appointed as the interim coach but had not been ruled out as a candidate.
His chances of staying increased after he led Madrid to four straight victories since replacing Lopetegui.