Spanish judges preside over a preliminary hearing at the Supreme Court in Madrid, Tuesday Dec. 18, 2018. (Ballesteros/Pool Photo via AP) (Associated Press)MADRID — A preliminary hearing in a rebellion case against Catalan separatists Tuesday displayed some of the dynamics between defense and prosecutors expected during a trial that is likely to dominate Spanish politics. At Tuesday’s hearing, a panel of seven magistrates heard from defense attorneys who argued the trial should be heard by the top regional court in Catalonia rather than Spain’s highest court in Madrid. The country’s top court also has jurisdiction, prosecutors argued, because the secession attempt affected all Spaniards. Vox wants to use the trial to showcase its hard stance against nationalism and its defense of Spanish unity ahead of European and local elections in May next year.

Source: Washington Post December 18, 2018 08:26 UTC