Hours after former Catalan regional president Carles Puigdemont and the others turned themselves in to Belgian authorities, Puigdemont’s party put him forward as its leader for an upcoming regional election called by the Spanish government. The choice means he could end up heading a campaign from Brussels while he fights a forced return to Spain. Read more:Spain obtains international arrest warrant for ousted Catalan leader, aidesCatalan leaders plan legal challenge to prevent Spain from taking overOusted Catalan leader vows to fight Spain’s takeoverSpanish government spokesperson Inigo Mendez de Vigo has said that any politician can run in the election unless he or she has been convicted of a crime. Nine other deposed Catalan cabinet members, however, heeded a Spanish judge’s summons for questioning in Madrid on Thursday. Bus Mas, the first Catalan leader to harness the political momentum for secession, said the main goals of secession supporters must be recovering self-rule and the release of the jailed separatists.

Source: thestar November 05, 2017 17:26 UTC