Editorial, 20 February 2024
ERC Secretary General, Marta Rovira
The Federal Office of Justice refuses to locate the ERC leader and indicates that her membership of the platform is “unclear”.
The Swiss Federal Office of Justice has questioned the investigation of the National Court magistrate Manuel García-Castellón into ERC secretary general Marta Rovira in the Tsunami Democràtic case, and has refused to locate her, as requested by the judge. In response to García-Castellón’s request, the body has asked Spain for more information “before verifying” whether the rogatory commission “has a political character”, a fact that would prevent them from granting the requested assistance, he recalled.
Meanwhile, the Swiss justice system has suspended the judge’s request to locate Rovira and information on her bank movements: “We do not understand what purpose is being pursued with this location”, the office points out in an extract from its reply. In the letter, the Federal Office of Justice notes that the request of 21 November 2023 on Rovira sent by the central court of instruction number 6 of the Audiencia Nacional is very similar to the rogatory commission it sent on 3 December 2019, which was already refused by Switzerland and where bank information on the Republican secretary general was already requested.
Specifically, the body wonders why movements in Rovira’s current account are requested until June 2020, when the events investigated in the airports of Barcelona and Madrid “that supposedly should have received financial support through this account” took place on 14 October 2019. Moreover, “from the point of view of the principle of proportionality”, he continues, he asks to know “the exact relationship between Rovira and the demonstrations at the two airports mentioned”. The Swiss authority notes the importance of highlighting the “precise involvement” of the republican in these demonstrations, “and more specifically in the actions against Spanish officials and looting committed in this context”.
In the letter, the Federal Office of Justice also points out that they know from the press that an amnesty law is being prepared, and asks for more information on the matter: “It would be convenient if you could explain to us the possible consequences of this law in the proceedings initiated against the members of the Tsunami Democràtic platform, as well as against Mrs. Rovira”, the organisation points out, adding that the Republican’s membership of this platform “is not clear”.
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