Rumours emerged yesterday that former-President Carles Puigdemont and five ministers had fled to Brussels, first by car to Marseille and then by plane. It was finally confirmed that Puigdemont arrived yesterday but details of the exact location for a press conference only emerged this morning. The former-President – who insists that he is still the ‘legitimate President’ addressed a packed press club and asked for the Spanish government to respect the outcome of the referendum. While he is not actually seeking asylum in Belgium, he said that he is merely exercising his right to freedom of movement in Europe. He was keen to stress that his choice of Belgium was not linked to Belgium or Belgian politics, but nevertheless it was important that he was at the heart of the EU. He called on European support. Finally, he said under the right circumstances he would return to Catalonia and asked the Spanish government to respect the outcome of elections on 21st December.
