Sacked Catalan leader in Denmark despite arrest threat

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Former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont arrived in Copenhagen on Monday, defying a threat by Madrid to issue a warrant for his arrest if he leaves Belgium, where he has been in exile since a failed independence bid.

Danish broadcaster TV2 released an image on its website of Puigdemont being surrounded by reporters after his plane landed in Copenhagen Airport. A source in his entourage also confirmed his arrival in the Danish capital.

Puigdemont is to take part in a debate on Catalonia at the University of Copenhagen later Monday.

Former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont arrives at Copenhagen Airport in Denmark, January 22, 2018. /VCG Photo

His trip comes a day after Spain's prosecution service said it would "immediately" have a supreme court judge issue a warrant for his arrest if he travels to Denmark, and urge Copenhagen to hand him over.

Puigdemont fled to Belgium in late October after Madrid sacked his cabinet over their breakaway attempt, but is eyeing a return to power after pro-independence parties won an absolute majority in regional elections in December.

Spanish Supreme Court Judge Pablo Llarena had dropped a European arrest warrant for Puigdemont and four of his deputies who fled to Belgium in early December, saying it would complicate the overall probe into the region's leaders.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy sacked Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont last October. /VCG Photo

Spanish public prosecutors on Monday asked the judge to re-issue a European arrest warrant for him, a judicial source said. The judge is not obliged to grant the request.

Puigdemont risks arrest on charges of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds, if he returns to Spain.

Puigdemont named candidate to lead Catalonia

Puigdemont is the first candidate whose name will be put to a vote in parliament to be Catalonia's president, the house's speaker Roger Torrent said on Monday.

Puigdemont's candidacy will be voted on no later than January 31.

Roger Torrent, speaker of the Catalan Parliament, delivers a statement at regional Parliament in Barcelona, Spain, January 22, 2018. /VCG Photo

While pro-independence parties had already said that Puigdemont was their candidate, Torrent's announcement makes it official.

Puigdemont is the favorite, but wants to govern the region from exile in order to avoid arrest if he returns to Spain. His supporters say modern technology would allow him to rule remotely.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy reiterated Saturday that governing Catalonia from abroad would be "illegal."

Source(s): AFP ,Reuters