Catalan Independence: Carles Puigdemont In Belgium, Lawyer Says - FOW 24 NEWS

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Catalan Independence: Carles Puigdemont In Belgium, Lawyer Says

Sacked Catalan President Carles Puigdemont has gone to Belgium, a lawyer he has hired there says....
The lawyer, Paul Bekaert, said he had not gone into hiding and did not deny he might seek asylum.

Spain's chief prosecutor has called for rebellion charges to be brought against him and other organisers of Catalonia's banned independence referendum.

The Spanish central government took direct control of Catalonia on Monday, replacing sacked officials.

It suspended the region's autonomy and called for fresh elections after Mr Puigdemont and his government declared independence last week.
Mr Bekaert said Mr Puigdemont was now in the Belgian capital, Brussels.

"He has full rights to be here, there is nothing against him at this moment," he told Flemish public radio. Asked whether the Catalan leader was planning to seek asylum in Belgium he added: "We're keeping all options open - nothing has been decided."

    Catalonia crisis in 300 words
    Madrid's enforcer for Catalonia
    What next for Spain?


Theo Francken, Belgium's immigration minister, said over the weekend that an asylum application was "not unrealistic" but Prime Minister Charles Michel later said it was "absolutely not on the agenda".

Mr Francken, a member of the separatist New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) party, said last week that Catalan ministers could apply for political asylum in Belgium, adding that he had doubts over whether Mr Puigdemont and others would get a fair trial in Spain.

Political commentators in Belgium have suggested that Mr Francken's earlier comments could be seen as an invitation to former Catalan members of parliament to seek asylum in the country.

On Monday Spanish media reported that Mr Puigdemont had met Flemish politicians in Brussels. The TV station La Sexta reported (in Spanish) that he was there with five of his sacked government's ministers:

    Meritxell Serret, agriculture minister
    Antoni Comín, health minister
    Dolors Bassa, labour minister
    Meritxell Borrás, governance minister
    Joaquim Forn, interior minister


Spain's Attorney General José Manuel Maza called for rebellion, sedition and misuse of funds charges to be brought against Catalan leaders.

If found guilty of rebellion, Mr Puigdemont could face a jail term of up to 30 years.

Under the Spanish legal system, Mr Maza's requests will be considered by a judge.
What else happened on Monday?

The working day passed off peacefully despite some officials defying instructions from Madrid not to turn up for work.

Any ministers who arrived at their offices were given hours to leave under threat of "action" by Catalonia's regional police force, Mossos.

Madrid's temporary move to impose direct control by invoking Article 155 of the constitution - a first for Spain - will see as many as 150 of the region's top officials replaced.

    Puigdemont: The man who wants to break up Spain

Mr Puigdemont and his vice-president Oriol Junqueras reject the central government's moves, arguing that they can only be removed from office by the citizens of Catalonia.
What's next for Catalan autonomy?

Madrid has called for fresh regional elections on 21 December.

A spokeswoman for Mr Puigdemont's PDeCAT party said it would field candidates "with conviction". The ex-president could run in new elections if he has not been jailed by then, according to Spain's Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis.

    What powers has Catalonia now lost?
    The case for and against independence


On Monday, Mr Dastis said he hoped the forthcoming elections would help to "restore legal governance and rule of law in Catalonia".
How did we get here?

Spain has been gripped by a constitutional crisis since a referendum, organised by Mr Puigdemont's separatist government, was held on 1 October in defiance of a constitutional court ruling that had declared it illegal.

The Catalan government said that of the 43% of potential voters who took part, 90% were in favour of independence.

On Friday the regional parliament declared independence.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy then announced the dissolution of the regional parliament and the removal of Mr Puigdemont as Catalan leader.

Mr Puigdemont has urged "democratic opposition" to direct rule from Madrid.
Catalan Independence: Carles Puigdemont In Belgium, Lawyer Says Reviewed by FOW 24 News on October 31, 2017 Rating: 5 Sacked Catalan President Carles Puigdemont has gone to Belgium, a lawyer he has hired there says....

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