Deposed Catalan President Puigdemont allegedly fled to Belgium to avoid prosecution by Madrid - UPDATE: Confirmed

Adam Garrie
The Duran
Mon, 30 Oct 2017 00:00 UTC

Spain's Attorney General Jose Manuel Maza has told local media that Madrid plans to file charges against deposed Catalan President Carles Puigdemont and his deputies, in the aftermath of declaring Catalonia a sovereign republic.

Many openly suspect that the deposed Catalan leadership will be charged with "rebellion", which in Spain can carry a 30 year prison sentence. Additionally, it is thought that the Catalan leaders will also be charged with sedition and embezzlement by Madrid.

Spanish media have also reported that Puigdemont has fled to Brussels in order to avoid prosecution.

The Belgian Migration Minister Theo Francken had previously stated that it was "not unrealistic" that Puigdemont could receive asylum in Belgium, a country which itself is in danger of splitting between Flemish and French speaking Walloon regions.

As an EU citizen, Puigdemont has the automatic right to live in Belgium, but unless formally granted asylum, he and his cohorts could be subject to a European Arrest Warrant, should Spain seek one.

Puigdemont had previously indicated he sought to remain in Catalonia and "peacefully resist" the Madrid takeover of the government in Barcelona and neither he nor any spokesmen have confirmed the reports of his arrival in Belgium.

Comment: Puigdemont appeared in Brussels along with other members of his cabinet at the same time that Spanish Attorney General Jose Manuel Maza filed a lawsuit against the secessionist leaders on charges of rebellion, sedition and embezzlement. RT reports:

Puigdemont did not go to the Catalonian regional Government Palace on Monday, even though he earlier vowed to "continue working to build a free country" in defiance of Madrid's decision to sack his government and suspend Catalonia's independence, which he said went against the will of the people.

On Monday morning, he posted a photo of the Catalan parliamentary palace, but did not appear there. Later, the Catalan media reported that the sacked regional leader turned up in Brussels alongside with some other members of his cabinet. The Spanish authorities soon confirmed that Puigdemont had indeed traveled to the Belgian capital.
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Catalonia's El Periodico newspaper reported that Puigdemont allegedly traveled to Brussels to meet with Flemish politicians. Two days ago Flanders, the Dutch-speaking region of Belgium, expressed its solidarity with the Catalans in their drive for independence.

Belgian Immigration Minister Theo Francken did not rule out granting asylum to Puigdemont if he applies. The minister called such an outcome "not unrealistic" on Sunday.

His statement, however, provoked a backlash from Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel, who said that giving political asylum to Puigdemont is "absolutely not on the agenda." He also urged Francken "not to fan the flames."