Crisis over Catalonia – an explainer Read moreThe secessionist politicians fled to Belgium on Monday after the Spanish authorities removed Puigdemont and his cabinet from office for pushing ahead with a declaration of independence following an illegal referendum. From his self-imposed exile, Puigdemont claimed he would not receive a fair trial in Spain, but promised to cooperate with the Belgian justice system. The formal charges, punishable by 30 years in prison, are rebellion, sedition, embezzlement of public funds and disobedience to authority, for their role in organising the referendum on Catalan independence on 1 October. It is up to the Belgian authorities to decide whether they recognise the charges and whether they will execute Spain’s European arrest warrant. Such a delay would give Puigdemont the opportunity to participate in the snap regional election called by Spain’s government for Catalonia on 21 December.

Source: The Guardian November 05, 2017 13:09 UTC