Catalan separatists claim to be in Belgium – Libération

More than 1,000 kilometers away as the crow flies. Catalan separatist Carles Puigdemont confirmed on Friday, August 9, on X (former Twitter) that he had found refuge in Belgium, in the town of Waterloo. On Thursday, the day of the vote to install the new president of the regional government, he made a brief appearance in Barcelona (Spain) after seven years of exile, despite the arrest warrant targeting him. Then, after a quick speech outside parliament, he backtracked. This Friday, the politician wanted in Spain explained that he had to travel “Thousands of kilometers in a few days” He claims to have “Need to [se] Rest and get some fresh air.

“I have already said that I have never had the desire to surrender voluntarily or facilitate my arrest because I find it unacceptable to be persecuted for political reasons.”The independence leader continues his message.

The Catalan police specifically singled out

This Friday, a third Catalan police officer was arrested for his alleged role in the escape of the independence leader, who was the trigger for Catalonia’s attempted secession in 2017. Two other officers were arrested and then released, while they remain accused of participating or assisting in Carles Puigdemont’s departure. Police explained that they lost track of him after he appeared on stage, when he was, they said, “He fled, taking advantage of the presence of a number of people around him, in a vehicle that the police tried to stop, but to no avail.”

The Catalan police, Los Mossos d'Esquadra, then set up a system to find him through numerous vehicle checks on Catalan roads. The Mossos d'Esquadra, already implicated in the 2017 secession attempt, explained at length on Friday during a press conference that they had every intention of arresting the independence leader, but in parliament where he was due to go to vote on his inauguration. And not after his speech on stage, outside.

Some critical voices have mentioned that “Charter” Passed between the Catalan police and the fugitive leader: “At any time […] “We did not negotiate or agree on anything with Carles Puigdemont or his entourage.” Edward Salient, the chief commissioner of Mossos, defended the case, noting that “I developed a device in which Mr. Puigdemont really wanted to participate in the inauguration session.”