Catalonia’s ex-leader ‘will not be at court’

CATALONIA’S sacked separatist leader yesterday looked to have thrown down the gauntlet in his tussle with the Spanish government, as his Belgian lawyer suggested he would ignore a Madrid court summons.

Carles Puigdemont, in Brussels since at least Monday, and 13 other members of his dismissed Catalan cabinet were told late on Tuesday to be at Spain’s top criminal court today and Friday.

They are due to be questioned in an investigation over Catalonia’s independence drive, which has plunged Spain into its biggest crisis in decades.

On Monday, Spain’s chief prosecutor said he was seeking charges of rebellion – punishable by up to 30 years behind bars – sedition and misuse of public funds. The hearing by the National Court, which deals with major criminal cases, could see the 14 formally charged.

But Paul Bekaert, a Belgian lawyer hired by Puigdemont, said late on Tuesday that his new client would not return to Spain as there is a “good chance that he would be detained”. Asked if Puigdemont would go back, Bekaert said “as far as he told me, that’s not going to happen”.

Two out of the several associates of Puigdemont who travelled with him to Brussels did return to the Catalan capital Barcelona late on Tuesday.

If Puigdemont, 54, and the others fail to appear before the court, Spanish prosecutors could order their arrest. An international warrant could follow if they are abroad.

On Tuesday Puigdemont told a packed news conference in Brussels – before the court summons was announced – that he would not return until he had guarantees that legal proceedings would be impartial.

He insisted his cabinet remained “legitimate” despite having been dismissed by Madrid on Friday and said he was in Brussels “for safety purposes and freedom”.

An October 1 referendum saw ugly scenes as Spanish police tried to prevent people voting. Puigdemont’s camp said the result was a “yes” to secession but turnout was just 43 percent. He insists this gave the Catalan parliament a mandate to declare independence last Friday.

The same day Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s government sacked the regional government and imposed direct control under an article of the Constitution. Rajoy has also called snap elections for December 21 to replace the Catalan parliament. Puigdemont said he accepted the “challenge” and he would “respect” the result.