What they are charged with: Rebellion, sedition and misappropriation of public funds. All charges arise from an illegal referendum on secession and subsequent declaration of independence from Spain.
What they are doing in Belgium: They fled to Brussels claiming they would not receive a fair trial in Madrid. Belgium is deciding whether to extradite them.
What happened on Friday: They faced their first extradition hearing and the case was postponed. They will come back on December 4 to argue their case.
How long this will go on for: It could take months if the decision gets appealed to the two higher courts, which it probably will if the court rules to extradite. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said he will respect whatever decision the Belgian courts make.
Catalonia declares independence from Spain
The Catalan parliament declared independence from Spain on October 27 after a month-long standoff with Madrid. Within the hour, the Spanish Senate had ordered the central government to impose direct rule on the region.
Image: picture-alliance/Zuma Press/M. Oesterle
The declaration
As the world watched, Catalonia's parliament voted 70 to 10 for the region to declare its independence from Spain. "Our legitimate parliament has taken a very important step. This is the people's mandate," Puigdemont said after the decision. Dozens of opposition lawmakers from the Socialist Party, Citizens Party and Popular Party had walked out of the parliament chamber to boycott the vote.
Image: Getty Images/D. ramos
The despair
Within an hour of the Catalan vote, the Spanish Senate in Madrid passed a bill to trigger Article 155 of the Spanish constitution. The measure will allow the central government to suspend Catalonia's autonomy. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said he would sack Catalonia’s government and set new regional elections for December 21.
Image: Reuters/S. Vera
The dismissal
European leaders were quick to condemn the independence declaration. EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said the Union "doesn't need any more cracks," while EU Council President Donald Tusk said Madrid "remains our only interlocutor." Leaders in Germany, France, Italy and the UK voiced their support for Madrid. The US also chimed in, saying "Catalonia is an integral part of Spain."
Image: Reuters/D. Pignatelli
The dispute
Barcelona and Madrid had been in a standoff since 93 percent of voters opted for Catalan independence in an October 1 referendum marred by police violence. Spain said the poll was illegal and stressed the low voter turnout of 43 percent. It subsequently threatened to suspend the region's autonomy if Catalan leaders did not stop their drive for independence.
Image: picture-alliance/newscom/UPI/A. Garcia
The defiance
Many had expected tensions to ease on October 26 when Catalan President Carles Puigdemont was expected to call snap elections to bow to a key Spanish government demand. But Puigdemont refused, saying that he did not have enough "guarantees" from Madrid. Instead, he called on the Catalan parliament to decide on how to respond to Spain's threat to suspend the region's autonomy.
Image: Reuters/Y. Herman
The dream
Tens of thousands of pro-independence protesters had taken to the streets of Barcelona ahead of the independence declaration to demand the region's secession and the release of two leaders of pro-independence organizations, Jordi Cuixart and Jordi Sanchez. Independence has divided Catalonia. Many who supported continued unity with Spain refused to vote in the October 1 referendum.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/S. Palacios
The delight
The pro-independence crowds outside the Catalan parliament immediately rejoiced after hearing the independence declaration. Many people were draped in the "Estelada" flag associated with Catalan independence. Some reportedly called for the Spanish flag to be removed from the Catalan government palace as regional lawmakers arrived from the parliament. (Author: Alexander Pearson)
Image: picture-alliance/Zuma Press/M. Oesterle
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The background:
Catalonia held an illegal referendum on October 1 on whether to declare independence from Spain. About 92 percent voted yes, but only 43 percent of people actually turned up to vote.
Catalonia's parliament declared independence about four weeks later. Madrid immediately sacked the government and imposed direct rule.
Rajoy called fresh elections for December 21, which Puidgemont and co will likely miss.
Hundreds of thousands of people attended rallies on both sides of the issue.
Puigdemont and several of his ministers fled to Belgium as fellow separatists were rounded up by police in Spain.
Madrid issued an international arrest warrant. The Belgian government said it cannot intervene and left the decision up to its courts.
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