OVERVIEW: The former regional president of Catalonia wants to fight for the independence of Brussels

Stand: 13:17 | Reading time: 3 minutes

N After four months of compulsory residence in Germany, former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont returns to exile in Belgium to continue to fight for the independence of Catalonia compared to Brussels. "I will come back to Belgium this weekend," Puigdemont said Wednesday in Berlin. In Brussels, he will continue his work under the Catalan exile council. Spain's central government has once again called for negotiations on a political solution to the Catalan conflict.

Puigdemont was on his way to Brussels four months ago following the suspension of his government by the Spanish central government in October. lived in exile. On the way back he was arrested in Schleswig-Holstein.

The reason for his arrest was a European arrest warrant from Madrid, but the German justice eventually refused his extradition on charges of rebellion and only agreed to extradite him for embezzlement. public funds. Puigdemont had to stay in Germany during the trial, but was released.

The legal hanging ended only a few days ago when the Madrid High Court quashed the European arrest warrant. to move freely in Europe. However, Puigdemont is still threatened with immediate imprisonment in his home country when he returns there. Rebellion is punishable by 25 years of imprisonment

"Today, I could return to Catalan soil, but that would be the French part – and of course the French part is also part of Catalonia" Puigdemont said of his exile. He chose Brussels as the location of his future political activities, because the conflict over Catalan independence is no longer a Spanish but a European internal affair. However, Puigdemont had to admit that supporters of the independence of Catalonia are not supported by any state of the EU.

The 55-year-old man was unable to offer new solutions to the conflict. However, he also asked the Spanish central government if he had a political plan for Catalonia. Puigdemont has once again offered talks in Madrid: "The door of dialogue and meeting with us is still open." In Spain, there was a change of government in early June. The new leader of the socialist government, Pedro Sánchez, represents in the Catalan conflict a softer line than his right-wing conservative predecessor, Mariano Rajoy, and, in Brussels, Puigdemont also plans to promote the planned October for a new party, The fragmented defenders of the independence of Catalonia should merge.

He stressed again that the majority of the Catalan population was clearly in favor of independence. And he stressed that referendums were not prohibited by the Spanish Constitution. "We would very much like to have a referendum based on the Scottish model," he added

The October 1 independence referendum in Catalonia had called the Spanish Constitutional Court illegal. With mbadive police brutality, Madrid tried to prevent the polls, but was nevertheless partially implemented.

When Puigdemont and his regional government subsequently proclaimed independence, they were deposed by Madrid and the region was returned to Spanish rule. However, voters of independence were reelected by new elections in Catalonia in December.

Puigdemont and his lawyers, who were also present at the press conference, again severely criticized the Spanish justice system. Indeed, even the Spanish government has stated on the allegation of embezzlement of public funds related to holding the referendum that "not a single euro has been diverted". In Spain, nine Catalan independence leaders have also been in prison for months, considering Barcelona a "political prisoner".