Sánchez reveals contacts with Madrid

Jordi Sánchez, the former president of the ANC and now on remand in the Soto del Real prison said before judge Pablo Llarena that he had in his possession a series of messages he exchanged with members of the Spanish government which in no way led him to foresee “what would happen during the October 1 referendum,” in reference to the violence exerted by police on voters. Sánchez even offered the judge access to these messages from his mobile phone.

The recently elected JuntsxCat MP claimed to have had many contacts leading up to the day to know the intentions of the Spanish government regarding the large deployment police in Catalonia. His opinion was that there could be some tension and disturbances, but nothing like the scenes experienced in schools and polling stations.

Interior minister Juan Ignacio Zoido yesterday claimed he did not know Sánchez and had never spoken to him. The government’s delegate in Catalonia, Enric Millo, admitted to contacts with Sánchez before the referendum saying that he had advised “prudence” and to avoid any “illegality”. PDeCAT spokesman in Congress, Carles Campuzano, said he had contact with members of the Spanish government who had said that the police response would be “proportional and professional.”