Catalonia's sacked separatist leader Carles Puigdemont on Monday denounced Spain as unjust after he was freed on bail in Belgium, as the case caused tensions between the Belgian and Spanish governments. Puigdemont and four former ministers could now find themselves still in Belgium when Catalonia holds regional elections on December 21, waiting for a judge to decide on a Spanish arrest warrant against them.
The five fled to Belgium a week ago after Spain dismissed the Catalan executive and imposed direct rule on the semi-autonomous region following the declaration of independence by the parliament there last month. The group were released Sunday night on condition they not leave Belgium before judges hear Spain's case for their extradition on charges of rebellion and sedition. "Released without bail. Our thoughts are with colleagues unjustly imprisoned by a state that is far from democratic norms," Puigdemont said on Twitter, referring to colleagues who have been jailed in Spain including his deputy.
In an editorial published in the British newspaper The Guardian, Puigdemont added that they would fight "to the end". "It may be uncomfortable for those who have given their uncritical and unconditional support to Mariano Rajoy's government, but we will defend our rights to the end," he said.
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