Catalonia wants out; Spain says no

Errr... I think that maps dates from a little older than a couple of centuries... :-)

Slightly.

It still remains unclear whether Puigdemont intends to apply for asylum in Belgium. This has not yet been decided, said his lawyer Bekaert yesterday night in Belgian tv.

Whether an asylum application from Puigdemont in Belgium would have any chance is questionable. The EU Treaty stipulates that the member states consider each other to be so-called "safe countries of origin" in the context of asylum matters.
It is generally assumed that there is no risk of persecution in EU member states. Only under more specific conditions may the application for asylum of a national of one Member State be taken into account by another member state.


This morning, his lawyer said on Belgian Radio 1 that Puigdemont did not run away from Barcelona: "He would like to leave early and where can he do that better than in the capital of Europe? I think it's a nice signal."

According to Bekaert, the fact that Puigdemont is in Brussels is also completely legal. "There is free movement of persons in Europe. He has the right to be here. For the time being, it is only an EU citizen who comes to Brussels. He may have political intentions by coming to the capital of Europe, but it is far too early to speak of a diplomatic squadron. But Spain is very weak in this area, I can say that."

Summarising the latest from various Belgian media:

Puigdemont is holding a press conference in Brussels at 12:30. This has been confirmed by his lawyer Paul Bekaert.
However, it does not take place in the European Résidence Palace complex in Brussels, as has been wished, the lawyer said. Puigemon's motion was denied.

It remains unclear exactly what he will say. It is rumoured that Puigdemont wants to establish a government in exile in Brussels or that he will apply for asylum in our country.
"I can only say what the legal possibilities in our country are, but we have not yet decided that all options are on the table," Bekaert said. "There's no extradition request from Spain, so we still have time."

Journalists are waiting in the Press Club of Brussels since quite some time by now ...

And now we'll learn a bit more about what is intended ...

Puigdemont spoke (still speaks) in Catalan and Spanish (and a bit in French) - I'm following on Belgian tv, in Flemish (Dutch) ...

But he said that there will be a printed version of speech to be precise and avoid any confusion.

He said that he and part of the Catalan government had travelled to Brussels indefinitely to draw attention to the Catalan problem in the heart of Europe and to denounce the impartiality of the justice system.
And to show the polarisation of the Spanish justice system and to show the world the serious democratic deficit that still exists in Spain.

He announces he will support the regional elections the central government has called. "The December 21 elections are a challenge that we're going to accept." He questions, if the Spanish government will accept the results of that election as well.

Puigdemont calls on the international community to react. He says that the Catalan people is based on the values of Europe.

He (and his government) will go on working for Catalonia, making it impossible for the PP, Ciudadanos and the PSOE to dismantle Catalan institutions.

He's not in Brussels to request political asylum.
He and his government have decided that the best way to express themselves is to be in the capital of Europe. They want to continue working as a government from there.
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A lot of questions now from the journalists now - I hope, my translation (from Dutch) got it right. But surely there will be a transcript and a lot of reports.

Report from The Guardian:
Catalonia's ex-president Puigdemont: I'm not in Belgium to seek asylum

This is absolutely fascinating....Thank you Walter for providing these details. I don't mean fascinating as in entertaining, but I really appreciate your updates.

Allow me to second that. Great work, Walt!

Thanks. Meanwhile, some of his ministers have returned to Barcelona.

Puigdemont lives in an alternate reality if he thinks that Belgium -- a country with its own secessionist tendencies -- won't extradate him once Spain charges him. He should flee to Russia... :-)

All this looked/looks like a great media stunt.

If they were looking for attention, I guess they got it.

Mine at least: only when looking at the Catalan history, I've noticed that I've been to all marches set up by Charlemagne besides the March of Friuli.

[Those marches are: the Danish March, the Saxon March, the Thuringian (Sorbian) March, the March of Lusatia, March of Meissen, March of Merseburg and March of Zeitz, the Franconian March, the Avar March, the Pannonian March, the Carantanian March, the Styria March, and the Marca Hispanica]

For the time being, Puigdemont does not want to return to Spain to face an interrogation in Madrid.
Dutch television NOS quoted his Belgian lawyer, Paul Bekaert, as saying: "It is obvious that my client will wait for a while". He fears that Puigdemont will not get a fair trial in Spain. Puigdemont will also argue if Spain should demand extradition.