More than 60 Catalan separatists have been spied on by the Pegasus software in the past five years, according to revelations published Monday April 18 in the New Yorker. This “Catalangate” outrages beyond the Pyrenees.
With our correspondent in Barcelona, Elise Gazengel
” A democratic state does not spy on its political rivals “. This is how the Catalan president, Pere Aragonès, began his speech, one of the 65 separatists spied on by the Pegasus software according to this Citizen Lab investigation published on Monday.
The Spanish intelligence services are directly implicated in the investigation. Aragonès therefore demanded answers from the Spanish government: who is responsible? By order of whom? And who was aware of this massive espionage? ” Espionage of this magnitude does not go unnoticed, it had to be authorized and therefore we want it to be clarified for the political and legal responsibilities that will ensue. “, he launched.
Besides, for him, relations between Barcelona and Madrid can’t be normal anymore. “ It’s hard to trust someone who is – apparently – spying on you “Launched the Catalan president. “ Today, trust in the government and its institutions is minimal. The Spanish government must give explanations and act with maximum transparency, until then we will not be able to resume normal political relations. “, he added.
And even if Madrid denies any involvement, the Catalan asks the President of the Spanish government Pedro Sanchez to prove his good faith by opening an internal investigation and assuming the political responsibilities of this “Catalangate”.
Finally, on a personal note, Pere Aragonès declared that he would lodge a complaint, like other former political leaders such as former Catalan President Carles Puigdemont, announced this Tuesday at a press conference in Brussels.