‘Wanted’ Catalonia leader flees to Brussels
THE future of Catalonia hung in the balance yesterday after the region’s former leader fled.
Shortly after prosecutors accused former Catalonian president Carles Puigdemont of several crimes for leading a bid for independence, it emerged he had fled to Belgium.
The move comes despite his earlier promises to fight Madrid’s attempt to impose direct rule on the region.
The ousted leader’s Belgian lawyer, Paul Bekaert, last night confirmed that Mr Puigdemont is staying in the country and did not rule out an asylum application.
Mr Bekaert, who has previously represented members of ETA, the militant Basque separatist group, said Mr Puigdemont ‘looks very well’ and would make a statement setting out his position today.
There were also reports that Mr Puigdemont, who is understood to have travelled with five former Catalan ministers, is prepared to form a government in exile.
The extraordinary developments came as Madrid moved to establish direct rule over the autonomous region using unprecedented constitutional powers.
Independence leaders had insisted they would peacefully resist the takeover, claiming last week’s declaration of independence was valid. But, with jail threats hanging over them, politicians yesterday agreed to dissolve Catalonia’s parliament – a sign they’d all but bowed to Madrid.
Several parties, including Mr Puigdemont’s Democratic Party, have also said they will take part in elections in December, raising the prospect of the former leader campaigning from abroad.
Spain’s ruling Popular Party yesterday branded the decision to flee the country as an act of ‘absolute desperation’.