Catalan leader flees to Belgium?

Former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont is in Belgium as Spanish prosecutors seek to charge him, his lawyer says.

A separatist supporter waves a Catalan flag (left) and a supporter of unity raises a Spanish flag in front of the government headquarters in Barcelona on October 30. Photo: Reuters

There are reports that he will seek asylum or form a government in exile in Belgium. Brussels has previously said it is ready to offer political asylum to the leaders of the Catalan region.

According to Spanish media, Mr. Puigdemont drove with five other dismissed members of the Catalan government quietly to the French city of Marseilles and caught a flight to Belgium.

Mr Puigdemont's lawyer said he had "not decided" whether to seek asylum but insisted he was not fleeing and would appear publicly in Belgium on October 31, local time. Mr Puigdemont and his deputy Oriol Junqueras had previously rejected central government intervention, insisting only the Catalan people had the right to fire him.

This is the latest development in political tensions in Spain since the wealthy region of Catalonia held a referendum to separate from Madrid in early October 2017 and declared independence last week. Immediately, Spain officially took direct control of the region and announced early elections on December 21.

On the first day of Madrid's takeover of Catalonia, Spanish prosecutors charged Mr Puigdemont and 14 other regional leaders with sedition over the illegal referendum. If convicted, he could face up to 30 years in prison.

Spanish officials said on October 30 that the Catalan parliament had been officially dissolved and its president would head a transitional committee of lawmakers until local elections are held on December 21.

Mr Puigdemont's PDeCAT party has announced it will take part in the upcoming election. Analysts have so far expressed concern that Madrid's intention to hold elections in Catalonia to "quell the unrest" could backfire if the separatists win.

According to Tuoi Tre