Former Catalan leader says to stay in Belgium for time being
Carles Puigdemont
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont  facing arrest in Spain for organising an illegal independence referendum in October  said on Tuesday he would stay in Belgium for the time being.
Ousted Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont holds a news conference in Brussels  Belgium  December 6  2017. REUTERS/Yves Herman
“For the moment we will stay here ”  Puigdemont  said at a press conference in Brussels.
 Puigdemont  declared the northeastern region of Catalonia an independent republic on Oct. 27  leading Madrid to impose direct rule on the regional government and fire the pro-independence administration.
Ousted Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont and other pro-independence officials hold a news conference in Brussels  Belgium  December 6  2017. REUTERS/Yves Herman
 Puigdemont  faces charges of rebellion  sedition  misuse of public funds  disobedience and breach of trust in Spain.
 His  party  ‘Together for Catalonia’  is campaigning on a pro-independence ticket for Dec. 21 elections called by Madrid in an effort to resolve the crisis.
 Puigdemont  said  he  hoped to be able to return to Spain if  he  was elected a member of the Catalan parliament  but  he  was not sure if  he  would be arrested and put in custody.
“We have to carefully consider such a decision before taking it ”  he  said.
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - [TGT]facing arrest in Spain for organising an illegal independence referendum in October  said on Tuesday [TGT] would stay in Belgium for the time being.
[TGT] holds a news conference in Brussels  Belgium  December 6  2017. REUTERS/Yves Herman
“For the moment we will stay here ”  [TGT]said at a press conference in Brussels.
 [TGT]declared the northeastern region of Catalonia an independent republic on Oct. 27  leading Madrid to impose direct rule on the regional government and fire the pro-independence administration.
Ousted Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont and other pro-independence officials hold a news conference in Brussels  Belgium  December 6  2017. REUTERS/Yves Herman
 [TGT]faces charges of rebellion  sedition  misuse of public funds  disobedience and breach of trust in Spain.
 [TGT]  party  ‘Together for Catalonia’  is campaigning on a pro-independence ticket for Dec. 21 elections called by Madrid in an effort to resolve the crisis.
 [TGT]said  [TGT]  hoped to be able to return to Spain if  [TGT]  was elected a member of the Catalan parliament  but  [TGT]  was not sure if  [TGT]  would be arrested and put in custody.
“We have to carefully consider such a decision before taking it ”  he  said.