Puigdemont: Will cooperate with Belgium officials

World
Europe

Ousted Catalan President Carles Puigdemont is vowing to cooperate with officials in Belgium over a European arrest warrant issued by Spanish authorities.

The leader is seeking sanctuary in Belgium as officials in Madrid demand his detention. Several of his former cabinet members are already being held, while several others are with Puigdemont escaping arrest.

This all follows a disputed independence referendum and declaration of independence by the Catalan government. In response, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy moved to invoke Article 155 of the country’s constitution, dissolving the regional government in Barcelona.

It could take three months for ousted Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont and four of his ex-ministers to be returned to Spain under a European arrest warrant, Belgian authorities said Saturday.

Sacked Catalan President Carles Puigdemont makes a statement in this still image from video calling for the release of "the legitimate government of Catalonia", in Brussels, Belgium, November 2, 2017. /Reuters Photo‍

Spanish prosecutors want to charge Puigdemont with rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds over his role in the region’s tumultuous independence drive, but the 54-year-old is in Brussels and has ignored a summons to appear in Madrid.

A Spanish judge has issued European arrest warrants for Puigdemont as well as Maria Serret Aleu, Antoni Comin Oliveres, Luis Puig Gordi and Clara Ponsati Obiols, according to the Belgian public prosecutor’s office, confirming it had received them.

The prosecutor’s office said that once Puigedemont and his colleagues are found and brought before an investigating judge, a decision will then be made within 24 hours.

"He (the judge) can decide not to issue an arrest warrant or he can issue an arrest warrant but possibly release the persons concerned under certain conditions," it said.

If any of the accused disagrees with the judge’s decision, they can appeal.

"The EU Framework Decision provides that the final decision must be taken within 60 days, with an extension to 90 days under exceptional circumstances," the Belgian justice ministry said in a statement.

Puigdemont and his ex-ministers flew to Brussels after Spanish authorities removed him and his cabinet from office following the regional parliament’s declaration of an independent republic of Catalonia.

Ousted Catalan President Carles Puigdemont appears during a live TV interview on a screen in a bar in Brussels, Belgium, November 3, 2017. /Reuters Photo

"They still allow in some situations to refuse the execution of an European arrest warrant," said the justice ministry.

"If the decision is to execute the (warrant), the person is in principle surrendered to the authorities of the issuing state within 10 days following the decision," it said.

Meanwhile, Puigdemont called on Saturday for a united political front in the December 21 election to continue the drive for independence from Spain and to protest the imprisonment of former members of the regional government.

"It is time for all democrats to join together. For Catalonia, for the freedom of political prisoners and for the republic," Puigdemont said in a tweet that included the hashtag llistaunitaria.cat, a site calling for parties to unite against the Spanish government at the ballot box.

7971km