Artur Mas

Artur Mas is among the former Catalan officials still subject to Court of Auditors proceedings concerning expenditure linked to the independence process and external activities. In July 2026, following the CJEU's amnesty ruling, the accounting court requested further submissions rather than immediately ending the proceedings.

Attribution

Accused

In 2025, Artur Mas filed a criminal complaint against former Interior Ministry, police and CNI officials and other individuals concerning "Operación Catalunya" and alleged Pegasus spying. In February 2026, the National Court refused to open an investigation, citing limitation periods, parallel proceedings and insufficient evidence. On appeal, the court subsequently referred the case to Barcelona for local courts to decide whether to investigate.

Attribution

Protagonist is the victim

In 2022, the National Court ordered the trial of the so-called "3%" case, in which prosecutors described an irregular CDC financing system involving corporate donations linked to public contract awards. CDC, the PDeCAT and numerous officials and companies were sent to trial. The alleged events partly covered years when Mas chaired CDC.

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist not prosecuted

The Court of Auditors ordered Artur Mas and former members of his government to repay 4,988,620.11 euros in public expenditure connected with the 9-N consultation. Mas was designated principally liable if the other persons held liable could not pay. The Supreme Court rejected his appeal in 2021.

Attribution

Personally implicated

Artur Mas was convicted in 2017 of disobedience for proceeding with the independence consultation of 9 November 2014 despite its suspension by the Constitutional Court. The TSJC initially sentenced him to two years' disqualification; in 2018, the Supreme Court reduced the period to one year and one month. He was acquitted of the offence of abuse of administrative authority (prevaricación).

State of the evidence

Established by a court

Attribution

Personally implicated

In the Palau case, the Barcelona Provincial Court concluded that Convergència Democràtica de Catalunya had received approximately 6.6 million euros in illegal commissions from Ferrovial in exchange for public contracts, through the Palau de la Música. Treasurer Daniel Osàcar was convicted and CDC ordered to repay the proceeds. Artur Mas led the party for a substantial part of the period.

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist not prosecuted

Artur Mas's government implemented substantial budget cuts in healthcare, education and other public services to reduce Catalonia's deficit. Bed closures, reduced hospital services and budgetary restrictions triggered large demonstrations and significant industrial conflict.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

During the 2012 Catalan election campaign, articles attributed allegations concerning Swiss accounts and secret commissions involving Artur Mas and the Pujol family to an alleged draft UDEF report. Police and the Interior Ministry stated that they did not recognise the document as an official report, and the judge handling the case was unaware of it.

Attribution

Directly implicated