The Spanish public prosecutor has requested a European arrest warrant for ousted Catalan President Carles Puigdemont after he failed to appear for a court hearing. Eight of his colleagues have been remanded in custody.
Image: REUTERS
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Spain's state prosecutor has applied for a European arrest warrant for Carles Puigdemont and other former members of his government for their role in a controversial independence referendum.
"The climate is not good, it is better to take some distance," his lawyer Paul Bekaert told Reuters. "If they ask, he will cooperate with Spanish and Belgian justice," the lawyer added.
Puigdemont and four of his sacked colleagues fled to Belgium on Monday as charges against them were unveiled. The ex-Catalan president declared he would stay in Brussels so he could act in "freedom and safety."
Ex-speaker of the Catalan parliament Carme Forcadell arrives at the Supreme Court after charges of rebellion and misuse of fundsImage: Reuters/R. Marchante
However, nine of Puigdemont's cabinet colleagues did appear before the Madrid court. Former Catalan Vice President Oriol Junqueras and seven others were remanded in custody pending an investigation and a potential trial. Former Business Minister Santi Vila, who stepped down from the cabinet before a unilateral declaration of independence on Friday, was granted bail of 50,000 euros ($58,300).
Other pro-independence politicians also arrived to face a separate Supreme Court probe in Madrid, including the former Catalan parliament speaker Carme Forcadell. The Supreme Court subsequently announced that the questioning of Forcadell and five other regional parliament board members was postponed until next week, on request of their lawyers.
DW correspondent Charlotte Chelsom-Pill reported a pro-independence rally on the streets of Barcelona on Thursday, with protesters expressing their support to Catalan lawmakers in Madrid.
Spain's state prosecutor on Monday filed charges of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds against Puigdemont and former members of his government for holding a banned referendum on secession on October 1, and then unilaterally proclaiming independence.
Puigdemont, his ousted vice president, Junqueras, and 12 other former members of Catalonia's government face potentially decades-long prison sentences if convicted.
Puigdemont's Belgian lawyer said Wednesday he was seeking to have his client questioned in Belgium instead of traveling to Madrid.
"He is not going to Madrid, and I suggested that they question him here in Belgium," Bekaert told The Associated Press. He said such an arrangement was possible, but he didn't know if the Spanish authorities would accept the offer.
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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A statement issued by the ousted cabinet, which claimed to still be "the legitimate government" of Catalonia, said some members would travel to Madrid and appear in court to "denounce the lack of guarantees from the Spanish justice system."
The statement also described the charges as "disproportionate," saying they were "equivalent to crimes such as murder or terrorism."
If an arrest warrant is issued, Puigdemont could be immediately detained by Belgian authorities and subsequently face extradition to Spain.
