Leader of the separatist movement in Catalonia, Carles Puigdemont, has arrived in Belgium and managed to avoid being captured by Spanish authorities. Puigdemont had addressed a demonstration in Barcelona before leaving, despite having a warrant issued for his arrest. Jordi Turull, the general secretary of Junts per Catalunya, a pro-independence group, stated that he was unsure of Puigdemont’s current whereabouts but mentioned that the leader had been residing in Waterloo, Belgium since his unsuccessful attempt to secede from Spain in 2017.
Conservative opponents have expressed frustration over Puigdemont’s brief visit to Catalonia and subsequent escape. These rivals had previously disagreed with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s amnesty agreement for separatists as an attempt to gain their support for his minority administration.
