"Nobody is judged for their ideas, but for offences recognized by our legal system." This was the assurance from acting Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez in a statement read this Monday after the announcement of the Supreme Court's conviction of the nine Catalan pro-independent political prisoners.
The Socialist leader recalled that "acceptance of the sentence implies that it will be complied with in full", thus appearing to close the door to possible pardons. In a discourse which was a strong attack on the Catalan independence movement, like other speeches he has made recently, he warned that he will be "paying attention" to what might happen in response to the sentence. His address also contained a long section in English - aimed squarely at an international audience. Sánchez asserted that "we are all called on to enter a new era of dialogue."
Despite this new era, the Socialist leader said, in the coming days, the Spanish government, "with all the attributions granted to it by legality, will remain alert about the compliance with legality". He warned that, if it were necessary to respond to possible "transgressions", his executive would do so with "firmness" and seek "the loyal cooperation of all political forces."
Sánchez classified the judicial process in the Supreme Court as "exemplary", recognizing the "independent work" and the autonomy of the judges. "The proper functioning of our judicial system has once again been demonstrated. This is the result of our social and democratic state under rule of law, "he reiterated. "Nobody is above the law," he repeated several times in English.