Spain issues warrant for ousted leader
Catalonian separatist, aides seen in Belgium
MADRID — A Spanish judge issued an international arrest warrant Friday for former members of the Catalan Cabinet who were last seen in Brussels, including the ousted separatist leader Carles Puigdemont, who said he was prepared to run for his old job even while battling extradition in Belgium.
The National Court judge filed the request with the Belgian prosecutor to detain Puigdemont and his four aides and issued separate international search and arrest warrants to alert Interpol in case they flee Belgium.
Belgian federal prosecutors said they received a European arrest warrant for Puigdemont and could question him in the coming days.
Spokesman Eric Van Der Sijpt told The Associated Press on Friday that he “can confirm that we have indeed received the arrest warrant” for Puigdemont, who is in hiding in Brussels. Four of his aides are also in hiding and also have been issued arrest warrants.
Van Der Sijpt said: “We will study it, and put it in the hands of an investigating judge. That could be tomorrow, the day after or even Monday.” He added: “We are not in any hurry.”
Puigdemont’s Belgian lawyer has said that his client will fight extradition to Spain without seeking political asylum.
The five are being sought for five different crimes, including rebellion, sedition and embezzlement in a Spanish investigation into their roles in pushing for secession for Catalonia.
The officials flew to Brussels after Spanish authorities removed Puigdemont and his Cabinet from office Saturday for declaring independence for Catalonia. The Spanish government has also called an early regional election for Dec. 21.
Puigdemont told Belgian state broadcaster that he was in Belgium “ready to be a candidate” in the early polls and because he had lost faith in the Spanish justice system.
“We can run a campaign anywhere because we’re in a globalized world,” he told RTBF, adding that he was not in Belgium to “Belgianize Catalan politics.”
“I did not flee, but it’s impossible to properly prepare” a legal defense while in Spain, he told the broadcaster.
If Belgium acts on the international warrant issued by Spain and arrests him, Puigdemont would have to be brought before an investigating judge within 24 hours. His extradition procedure would take 15 days, Belgian legal experts say. But should Puigdemont appeal, that process could take a further 45 days.