Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Ex-Catalan Chief Back in Belgium, Meets Successor

by Associated Press

   BRUSSELS --

   Former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont has returned to Belgium to drum
   up support for Catalonia's separatist movement after Spain's bid to
   extradite him on rebellion charges from Germany failed.
   Puigdemont arrived in Brussels Saturday morning and shook hands with
   the current regional president of Catalonia, Quim Torra, who had
   traveled from Spain to meet his predecessor.
   Puigdemont fled Spain in October following an illegal and ineffective
   declaration of independence by secessionist lawmakers in northeastern
   Catalonia.
   He had been in Germany since March when he was arrested on a Spanish
   warrant while traveling in car from Finland back to Belgium.
   But a Spanish judge withdrew the international warrant for Puigdemont
   after a German court refused to extradite him for rebellion.
   Puigdemont can be arrested, however, if he returns to Spain.