“Arrate” Downloaded President of Catalonia

The dismissed president of Catalonia, Carlos Puigdemont, and several of his advisers are in Belgium. Spanish media write he will seek political asylum in Brussels.

The dismissed president of Catalonia, Carlos Puigdemont and 5 of his advisers intend to seek political asylum in Belgium. This was made known by some Spanish media.

It is learned that Puigdemont travelled to Brussels on Monday to meet with a nationalist political grouping. The former head of the autonomous region's visit has not been made without cause, as Belgian immigration Minister Theo Franken left open the possibility of offering political asylum to Puigdemont on Sunday.

This official's party is part of the ruling coalition. During Sunday evening, Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel intervened, rejecting his minister's statement after the latter triggered Madrid's irritability.

The Spanish government of Mariano Rajoj has suggested she is not concerned about Puigdemont's trip to Belgium. Journal “La Vanguardia” citing sources from Spain's interior ministry writes that what mattered most to this Monday was not to present the dismissed leader at the Catalonian Presidential Palace.

In this way, the trip to Brussels has served both sides. On the one hand Madrid, which feared an unwanted development outside of parliament in the autonomous region; on the other hand, it benefited; and Puigdemont, for which Spain's attorney general demanded incriminating for rebellion, breaching constitutional order and acquiring state funds.

Catalonian's dismissed president feared a possible arrest by Spanish authorities. It seems to have benefited from the situation and is preparing the ground to submit a call for political asylum in Belgium. Even since some of the Catalonian MPs have already begun to view Puigdemont as “President in the exotic”.