Gas Natural latest firm to move legal HQ out of Catalonia over crisis

Catch up on our live blog of events on Friday in the region, which saw the IMF warn of potential consequences of independence challenge, and regional

government publish “definitive” results of illegal referendum

EL PAÍS

Madrid / Barcelona 6 OCT 2017 - 12:59 ART

Mossos chief Josep Lluís Trapero (c) arrives at the High Court

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It’s been another fast-moving day of events in Catalonia today, starting first thing this morning with the appearance of the head of the Mossos regional police force, Josep Lluís Trapero, in Spain’s High Court in Madrid over accusations of sedition. The charges relate to the Civil Guard searches of the region’s economy department on September 20, and the actions of the Mossos in dealing with the crowds of protestors that gathered outside the building as the operation took place.

Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry announced that the extra Civil Guard and National Police officers who have been drafted into Catalonia will be staying there an extra week, until October 18.

After the weekly Cabinet meeting, ministers announced that they had approved a Royal Decree that would make it easier for companies to move their legal headquarters out of Catalonia given the ongoing uncertainty that a potential unilateral declaration of independence is causing. Today alone a number of major firms, including energy giant Gas Natural, announced that they would be taking that step.

The regional premier, Carles Puigdemont, has requested to make an appearance before the Catalan parliament on Tuesday, potentially sidestepping a Constitutional Court ban on a parliamentary session tabled for Monday, given the likelihood of an independence declaration being made.

And late on Friday afternoon, the regional government published the “definitive” results of Sunday’s referendum vote.