The ousted president of the Catalan government, Carles Puigdemont, was in Brussels on Monday 30 October, three days after the Spanish government triggered article 155 of the Spanish Constitution in response to the launch on the same day of a process meant to lead to Catalonia's independence (see EUROPE 11893).
Although the reason for Puigdemont's visit had not been officially announced as we were going to press, it would appear that he came to meet senior Belgian political figures, including those of the Flemish majority party, N-VA, but this was denied on Monday.
On Sunday, the Belgian Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration, Theo Francken of the nationalist Flemish party, hinted that the former president of the Catalonian Generalitat may seek political asylum in Belgium.
According to several Spanish media sources, Puigdemont and five members of the now former Catalan government were indeed planning to request political asylum on Tuesday 31 October. Such a request is possible under Belgian law even if it comes from a European citizen.
Catalan representative in Brussels stood down
Additionally, Madrid stood down Amadeu Altafaj i Tardio, the representative of the Autonomous Community of Catalonia to the institutions of the European Union, on Saturday 28 October.
This move comes in the broader framework of the suspension of Catalonia's autonomy and Mariano Rajoy's central government taking control of the Catalan political institutions. As well as calling new elections for 21 December, the activation of article 155 of the Spanish Constitution has had the consequence of closing down all of the Catalan autonomous community's representations worldwide. Although it has lost its political representative, the Catalan representation's office to the institutions of the EU is continuing to operate at technical level.
Altafaj i Tardio lost no time in reacting, publishing a letter in the Catalan language on Monday 30 October, aimed at the employees of the Catalan representation to the EU, in which he expresses his sadness at the idea of leaving his position. This former European Commission spokesperson also reiterated the importance of political dialogue. On behalf of the Catalan people, he also took the opportunity to reiterate the region's commitment to Europe and the European Union.
When asked about the matter at a press conference on Monday 30 October, Commission spokesperson Alexander Winterstein simply reiterated statements made by Jean-Claude Juncker, the President of the Commission, speaking in Guiana on Friday 27 October, expressing his support for the Spanish government and calling for the Spanish Constitution to be respected. All of this took place against the backdrop of major demonstrations by those in favour of maintaining the autonomous community within Spain, in Barcelona on Sunday 29 October. (Original version in French by Lucas Tripoteau)