‘Catalan exile’ back at St Andrews uni

A FORMER member of Catalonia’s regional government has relocated to the UK from her self-imposed exile in Belgium. Clara Ponsati revealed on social media she has returned to working at St Andrews University.

The Catalan former education minister had been in Belgium since fleeing Spain along with ex-regional president Carles Puigdemont and three other former cabinet members following an unsuccessful bid to declare independence from Spain in October.

She and the others are said to face arrest if they return to Spain.

A post on Ms Ponsati’s Twitter account said: “The Catalan exile arrives in United Kingdom: enjoying my freedom of movement as a European citizen, I’ve reinstated at St Andrews University.” It included a picture of the coastline.

Scottish Parliament Presiding Officer Tricia Marwick tweeted: “Welcome.You’ve many friends in Scotland.”

The university’s website lists Ms Ponsati as a professor at its school of economics and finance.