BREAKING NEWS: Catalonia’s president flees to Brussels after Belgium offered him asylum as Spain issues him with €6 MILLION bail and announces plan to charge senior officials with sedition and rebellion
Carles Puigdemont fled to Brussels on Monday as prosecutors called for him to be charged with rebellion
Mr Puigdemont had threatened to arrive at work in defiance of Madrid, but instead ran for the border
Catalan speaker Carme Forcadell dissolved parliament before being told to hand herself over to police
Belgian authorities suggested they could grant Mr Puigdemont asylum, though his status is still unclear
By JAKE WALLIS SIMONS
DAILYMAIL.COM
30 October 2017
Ousted Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont fled to Brussels on Monday as his separatist movement collapsed and Spain’s top prosecutor called for him to be charged with rebellion, sedition and embezzlement.
Mr Puigdemont had vowed to defy Madrid by turning up to work despite threats of arrest and even uploaded a picture of the presidential palace roof to Instagram, but never appeared.
Five other sacked members of the Catalan government said to be with him in Brussels. Its being billed as a meeting with Flemish separatists but there is growing speculation he may seek political asylum.
Mr Puigdemont, who is reported to be in a ‘safe place’ away from the media, is expected to give a speech on Tuesday clarifying why he left the country.
The Belgian foreign minister said on Sunday that it was ‘not unrealistic’ that Mr Puigdemont could be granted asylum if he faced arrest, though he was later slapped down by Prime Minister Charles Michel.
Former speaker Carme Forcadell, who is also facing charges alongside Mr Puigdemont, did arrive at her office in Barcelona but only to announce parliament would be dissolving.
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