The Spanish National Court in Madrid on Friday issued a European search and arrest warrant for Carles Puigdemont and four of his ex-cabinet members who failed to appear in court to face questioning over a Catalonian independence referendum.

Investigating judge Carmen Lamela also rejected Puigdemont's request to testify by videoconference from Brussels, where he has been since Monday.

The Catalan leader fled to Belgium with several of his colleagues after Madrid sacked his regional government following a unilateral declaration of independence from Spain.

According to the judge, Puigdemont and his associates are being sought for five different offenses, including rebellion, sedition, embezzlement and breach of trust. They are among 20 regional politicians ordered to appear before the courts over the secession bid.

On Thursday, eight Catalan leaders, including former Vice President Oriol Junqueras, were sent to prison without bail pending an investigation into the secessionist campaign and a potential trial. They could remain in custody for up to four years. Former Business Minister Santi Vila, who stepped down from the cabinet before the independence declaration, was granted bail of 50,000 euros ($58,300).  

Read more:

-  Catalonia: 'Rajoy will not make concessions to anyone'

-  Opinion: Puigdemont and his Catalan disappearing act

- Bosch: Spanish government 'never been proportionate or fair'

 

Brussels 'to study' warrant

Judge Carmen Lamela filed a request with a Belgian prosecutor to detain the five Catalan leaders, as well as issuing separate search and arrest warrants to alert Europol in case they flee Belgium. Belgium has a maximum of three months to decide whether to extradite Puigdemont to Spain.

A spokesman for Belgium's state prosecutor confirmed the authority had received the warrant.

"We will study it, and put it in the hands of an investigating judge. That could be tomorrow, the day after or even Monday," spokesman Eric Van Der Sijpt said. "We are not in any hurry."

Just hours earlier, Puigdemont told Belgian state broadcaster RTBF he was ready to hand himself in to Belgian authorities but would not surrender to judicial officials in Spain.

"I will face justice, but (only) true justice... I told my lawyers to tell the Belgian judiciary I am completely ready to cooperate," he said. "I have not fled (Spain), but it is impossible to prepare well there (for my defence)."

The Catalan leader's Belgian lawyer Paul Bekaert, who has helped Basque separatist militants challenge Spanish extradition, said his client did not see the climate as "conducive to testifying." He added that his client would appeal if a Belgian judge approved an extradition to Spain.

Puigdemont also insisted he was prepared to run in a snap Catalonian regional election called by Madrid on December 21, even if it means campaigning from Belgium. 

"We can run a campaign anywhere because we're in a globalized world," he said. 

Protests in Barcelona

DW reporter Charlotte Chelsom-Pill said a large crowd of pro-independence protesters gathered in Barcelona again on Friday to show their opposition to the warrant, as well as to Thursday's jailing of eight Catalan leaders.

Catalan civic group Asamblea Nacional Catalana (ANC), meanwhile, called for street demonstrations across the northeastern region.

"Today, at 7 pm, everyone in front of the city halls to demand freedom of political prisoners," the assembly wrote in a Twitter post. "They will not silence the voice of a free people!"

The ANC and Omnium Cultural — whose leaders were imprisoned last month on sedition charges — have called a general strike on November 8 and a mass protest on November 11.

Six other Catalan leaders are due to testify in the Supreme Court on November 9, over their involvement in the independence referendum.

What has happened so far:

• Spain's Catalonia region held an independence referendum on October 1 that was declared illegal by the central government in Madrid
• Catalonia's leaders unilaterally declared independence from Spain on October 27
• Madrid exercised constitutional powers allowing it to take over the running of Catalonia
• Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy dismissed the Catalan cabinet and dissolved the regional parliament 
• Spanish prosecutors filed rebellion charges against Catalan leaders
• Carles Puigdemont traveled to Brussels with several ex-cabinet ministers, saying he was seeking "freedom and safety"
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
7 images

nm/rt (Reuters, AP, dpa)