- Title: Spanish royals attend Spain National Day parade
- Date: 12th October 2019
- Summary: MADRID, SPAIN (OCTOBER 12, 2019) (REUTERS) PEOPLE CLAPPING AS TROOPS PASS BY
- Embargoed: 26th October 2019 12:33
- Keywords: Spain national day Spain King Felipe military parade parachutist hangin from street lamp Spain acting prime minister Pedro Sanchez
- Location: MADRID, SPAIN
- City: MADRID, SPAIN
- Country: Spain
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA008B0SIVK7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Spain's King Felipe attended the country's national day military parade on Saturday (October 12) as the country awaits the Spanish Supreme Court's imminent verdict on the trial of 12 Catalan separatist leaders over their role in Catalonia´s 2017 banned independence referendum and subsequent short-lived declaration of independence.
The ruling could reignite tensions over a secession push which, two years ago, plunged Spain into its worst political crisis in decades.
The verdict and the severity of any sentence, with the public prosecutor seeking prison terms of up to 25 years, could stoke protests as supporters of independence prepare to react in the case of convictions.
On October 1, acting PM Pedro Sanchez said Madrid was ready to again apply direct rule in Catalonia if the regional government broke any laws.
A parachutist hit some technical difficulties during the parade after misjudging his landing, smashing into a lamp post and remaining suspended as hundreds at the parade looked on.
Spain's King Felipe was among the onlookers as the man was left hanging above the crowd and tangled in his parachute cords.
Spain is facing its second election this year and polls show it is unlikely to break the stalemate between the main right and left-wing parties.
During some moment of the parade Pedro Sanchez was booed by part of the audience.
(Production: Guillermo Martinez, Silvio Castellanos) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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