Pro-independence parties have again secured an absolute majority in the Catalan parliament, with former regional leader Carles Puigdemont poised to regain the power he had been stripped of by Madrid.
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Spain has withdrawn a European arrest warrant for Catalonia's sacked leader Carles Puigdemont and four of his former ministers, who fled to Belgium after the regional parliament declared unilateral independence, the Supreme Court said Tuesday.
Catalonia's sacked separatist leader Carles Puigdemont and four of his former ministers were released with conditions in Belgium on Sunday after turning themselves in to face a Spanish warrant for their arrest.
Prosecutors in Madrid have asked for eight sacked members of Catalonia's regional government to be jailed over their role in October's disputed independence referendum.
Sacked Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont will not return to Spain to answer charges including rebellion, his Belgian lawyer has said.
Catalonia's sacked President Carles Puigdemont says he has not travelled to Belgium to seek asylum.
The Catalan regional parliament has voted to declare independence from Spain, while the Spanish parliament has approved direct rule over the region.
Spain's premier urged senators Friday to adopt radical measures to impose direct rule on rebel Catalonia and depose its president in a bid to halt the region's independence bid.
The central government in Madrid on Thursday quickly responded that it would begin the legal procedures to implement Article 155 of the Spain’s 1978 constitution, which allows it to seize control of the regional government, finances and police. Madrid announced a meeting of ministers for an “extraordinary” session on Saturday to approve the measure.
The Spanish Constitutional Court has unanimously annulled the Catalan Referendum
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has given Catalonia's separatist leader five days to say whether or not he has declared independence.
Spanish PM seeks clarity on Catalan independence declaration, threatens to suspend region’s autonomy
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has demanded the Catalan authorities clarify whether or not the region declared independence following the local leader’s speech on the October 1 referendum results.
Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont said Tuesday he had accepted the "mandate of the people" for his region's independence from Spain but suspended the declaration to allow more time for talks with Madrid.
Carles Puigdemont is enemy No. 1 of the Spanish government. Though he became the Catalan president practically by chance, Puigdemont now represents the independence dream of millions of Catalans. On Tuesday, he may declare that the moment has come.
The French government has said it will not recognise Catalonia if it declares independence from Spain and such a move will mean expulsion from the EU.
The drive for independence that delivered the banned 1 October referendum did not begin under his leadership. But such is his zeal for secession, that Catalonia's President Carles Puigdemont is prepared to risk its existing autonomy to achieve it.
In European Parliament debate, Commission First Vice President Frans Timmermans sides squarely with Madrid.
On Sunday, of 2 million votes cast, 90% voted in favour of leaving Spain
Pro-independence Catalan leaders are pressing ahead despite an emphatic warning from King Felipe VI.
Catalan President Carles Puigdemont has said he is not planning a "traumatic" split with Spain, after a disputed independence referendum on Sunday.