The move brings Puigdemont, who has fled to Belgium and his allies, one step closer to a trial in which they would face up to 30 years’ imprisonment, if convicted.
Browsing: Carles Puigdemont
The politicians were behind a drive for independence that culminated in the central government dissolving their regional administration and charging them with rebellion and sedition.
The five, who face accusations of rebellion and sedition in Spain, are due to appear later Sunday before a judge who will decide within 24 hours whether to detain or release them.
Puigdemont had gone to Brussels after his government was sacked following a declaration of independence
The Spanish authorities have demanded Puigdemont, who has been in Brussels since Friday, to return to Spain for questioning over charges of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds.
Puigdemont, who has been in Belgium since Monday with five councilors, told a news conference in the Brussels Press Club, that he accepted the snap elections called by Spain’s central government in Catalonia on December 21.
Puigdemont travelled to Belgium on Monday, after the Spanish state prosecutor’s office announced charges of rebellion, sedition and misappropriation of funds against him
Puigdemont said: “If the government of the [Spanish] state insists on refusing dialogue and continuing with repression, the Parliament of Catalonia can proceed, if it deems it appropriate, to vote on the formal declaration of independence.”
The Spanish government said that Carles Puigdemont did not clarify whether he declared independence of the region or not.
The real declaration has been deferred
The 49-year-old king abandoned his previously measured tone over tensions with Catalonia as the standoff dragged Spain into its deepest political trouble in decades
But it appears the Catalans are determined to hold the vote.
The central government, which has sent thousands of police reinforcements to stop people voting and has attempted to dismantle the infrastructure needed to conduct the referendum it says is illegal, insisted it would not go ahead
The decree was issued by Mercedes Armas of the Superior Court of Justice of Catalonia, the magistrate who is leading the legal fight against the referendum, the Europa Press news agency reported on Friday