Catalonia’s axed leader ‘in Brussels’

Catalonia's dismissed separatist leader Carles Puigdemont was in Brussels yesterday, a Spanish government source said, as prosecutors called for him to be charged with rebellion over his drive for Catalan independence, reports AFP from Madrid. The news came as Madrid took political control of Catalonia after declaring that Puigdemont and his separatist regional administration were dismissed on Friday, following the Catalan parliament's independence declaration. On Sunday Belgium's immigration minister suggested Puigdemont could receive asylum in Belgium on the grounds that he might not get a fair trial in Spain. On Monday the Spanish government source told AFP that Puigdemont "is in Brussels". Catalan daily La Vanguardia reported that he was accompanied by others from his former administration. Puigdemont, 54, said the result of an outlawed independence referendum on October 1 gave the region a mandate to declare independence.  Madrid and the Spanish courts said the referendum was illegal and that a unilateral independence declaration would violate the constitution. Belgian immigration minister Theo Francken, a member of the Flemish separatist N-VA party, said Sunday it was "not unrealistic" that Belgium could offer protection to Puigdemont.

 

Catalonias axed leader in Brussels

Catalonias dismissed separatist leader Carles Puigdemont was in Brussels yesterday, a Spanish government source said, as prosecutors called for him to be charged with rebellion over his drive for Catalan independence, reports AFP from Madrid. The news came as Madrid took political control of Catalonia after declaring that Puigdemont and his separatist regional administration were dismissed on Friday, following the Catalan parliaments independence declaration. On Sunday Belgiums immigration minister suggested Puigdemont could receive asylum in Belgium on the grounds that he might not get a fair trial in Spain. On Monday the Spanish government source told AFP that Puigdemont is in Brussels. Catalan daily La Vanguardia reported that he was accompanied by others from his former administration. Puigdemont, 54, said the result of an outlawed independence referendum on October 1 gave the region a mandate to declare independence. Madrid and the Spanish courts said the referendum was illegal and that a unilateral independence declaration would violate the constitution. Belgian immigration minister Theo Francken, a member of the Flemish separatist N-VA party, said Sunday it was not unrealistic that Belgium could offer protection to Puigdemont.