Flanked by four colleagues from the party “Junts per Catalunya” Gorka Knorr, Erika Casajoanna, Calara Ponsati and Toni Comin, Puigdemont was upbeat about his chances and thought that the party would win 2 electoral seats.

He said that his party embodied Europe’s democratic values, and that he wanted to bring the voice of the people to the centre of the EU institutions in Brussels and Strasbourg. He expressed the importance of the principle of self-determination, and the need to strengthen Europe’s fundamental democratic values through diversity by letting the voice of all the people to be heard.

When asked if he would support an application from Scotland to rejoin the European Union, should today’s Brexit Summit in Brussels not prove successful, Puigdemont replied that of course support from the Catalans for Scotland would be forthcoming, and that Scotland and Catalonia were brothers in support of recognising individual citizens’ rights.

The post Carles Puigdemont announces candidacy in European Parliament Elections appeared first on Brussels Express.

Welcomed in Brussels by the current Catalan leader, Quim Torra, the latter believes that, « Today is a defeat for the Spanish State. Spain has lost the European legal battle. » How many defeats will the Spanish State need to understand that this political problem needs a political solution? The two men now want a European response, and they will lead a strategy of internationalization of the situation. The presence of Carles Puigdemont in the European capital is in this sense an advantage, they said. « It’s not the end of the trip. I will travel to the last corner of our continent to defend the just cause of the Catalan people, » said Mr. Puigdemont.

A few weeks before the communal elections (October 14th) and a few months before the Belgian regional and federal elections (May 26^th, 2019), Puigdemont also recalled that his presence in Brussels, « had nothing to do with Belgian politics ». « We do not want to interfere in Belgian politics and have a lot of respect for the political reality of the country. »

Puigdemont has declared that he is a free European, everywhere except in Spain. He does not want to rely on European leaders but on the citizens of the Union. He added that, « Europe is not only an institution made up of States, politicians and European leaders. It is an institution full of European citizens. I am sure that the majority of the public believes that the fundamental values of democracy are of paramount importance. »

He was again optimistic about the new Spanish government led by Socialist Pedro Sanchez. « A dialogue has started. And that is completely new. » Wouldn’t this road trip, which began in Finland, be the beginning of a legitimacy found for Puigdemont ? Only the future will tell.

The post Puigdemont back in Brussels…with more legitimacy? appeared first on Brussels Express.

One think seems to be clear: the pro-independence movements have expressed a strong message of unity in the past weeks. As an exemple, over 45 000 protesters gathered in Brussels to show support for deposed Catalan leader, Carles Puigdemont, and to urge the EU to support their drive for independence from Spain.

Can Puigdemont really win tomorrow’s election?

According to the last survey, conducted by Metroscopia, the pro-independence parties will obtain 43,8% of the votes (Puigdemont’s party would rank third). The parties supporting the unity of Spain –  PP, PSOE and Ciudadanos – reach 44,9% all together.

Source: Metrocospia, El PaisMetrocospia explains that « more citizens vote, more unlikely is the victory of the pro-independence parties ».

Whatever the result will be, Spain, the EU and N-VA will draw some conclusions. If the pro-independence coalition wins, both the EU and Spain will look for a compromise allowing more competences for Catalonia. Otherwise, it will be hard to call for democracy and to respect the rule of law. But if the pro-unity parties wins, it will surely be a significant failure, for both Carles Puigdemont and N-VA. The former President of the Generalitat will probably have no option than heading back to Spain and face the judges. The pro-Flanders party will lose a strong ally and a golden hope to obtain more autonomy in the upcoming years.

The post Tic-tac for Catalonia appeared first on Brussels Express.

Many of those demonstrating are members of the Catalan branch of the ICEC, a group based in Brussels that lobbies the EU to recognise European regions’ demands for self-determination.

Chanting « Wake up Europe! » and waving Catalonia’s famous red, yellow and blue Estelada separatist flag, crowds marched from Montgomery to Cinquantenaire, where they held an open-air rally.

They then assembled near the commission headquarters before a march through the Belgian capital. Some members will later attend a conference with  Belgian MEP Mark Demesmaeker.

The Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont and four former ministers fled to Brussels in November, saying they wanted to take their cause to a European level after Spain charged them with sedition and rebellion over Catalonia’s independence referendum in October.

Speaking just ahead of the demo, he said, “For the moment we will stay here.”

Madrid dropped a European arrest warrant for the five on Monday but Puigdemont said he would stay put for now as they still face arrest in Spain if they return for snap regional polls in Catalonia on December 21.

Jorge Santos, 35, who was among the protestors, told this website, « We cannot abandon our president, who is in exile here. We have come to the heart of the EU to show that we intend to continue the struggle for our independence and to ask for the freedom of our political prisoners. »

Further comment came from Bernard Daelemans of ICEC who said, “They want respect for democracy, to address the hypocrisy of the unelected men in Brussels, to demand the release of their political prisoners and to show that Catalonia can save the EU – not the other way around.”

The ICEC was founded in Catalonia in 2009 and grew to represent several nationalist movements, including from Scotland, the Basque Country and Flanders.

Belgian police were on hand but the early stages of the protest were peaceful.

Puigdemont, who is the exiled former president of Catalonia, refused to return to Spain to face criminal charges unless he received government guarantees that the results of elections called by Madrid to wrest back control of the region would be respected.

The post 45 000 Catalan protesters in Brussels appeared first on Brussels Express.

Copyright: Lucas Tripoteau.

The post Photoreportage: Catalonia & Flanders together for independence appeared first on Brussels Express.

Those were the opening words of Maurice Ponga, French politician and Member of the European Parliament from the french overseas constituency, during today’s conference at Press Club Brussels Europe, under the topic New Caledonia, an EU strategic partner in the Pacific.

This conference was organised by OCTA innovation, an association aimed to establish the bridge between the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) and the European Union on the innovation field.  Although, the topic was innovation and the added value New Caledonia brings to the Pacific as the third biggest economy, after New Zealand and Australia, another topic was on the table: an independent New Caledonia.

Towards the independence?

Following the Second World War, in 1946, New Caledonia became officially a French oversea territory. By 1953, French citizenship was granted to all New Caledonians, regardless of ethnicity. The European and Polynesian populations gradually increased in the years leading to the nickel boom of 1969–1972, and the Melanesians became a minority, though they were still the largest ethnic group.

In 1998, the Nouméa Accord granted political power to New Caledonia and its original population, the Kanaks, until the territory decides whether to remain a special collectivity of France.

France views New Caledonia – which contains about 30% of the world’s nickel reserves – as a strategic political and economic asset in the region.  The accord allowed the archipelago greater autonomy during the past 20 years before a referendum on self-determination is held.

« We have all the traditional powers of a  sovereign State. Our destiny will be decided in 2018” stated Philippe Germain, President of New Caledonia.

Last Thursday, New Caledonian leaders held nine hours of talks with French ministers in Paris where they reached a political agreement with the metropole that could pave the way towards the independence.

The French Prime Minister, Edouard Phillippe, announced that he will visit the Pacific archipelago by the end of the year. He also underlined that the talks « resulted in a political agreement and, perhaps even beyond that, we have trust, which is just as important”.  Emmanuel Macron is also visit New Caledonia by next May, 2018.

If 16000 kilometres separates Brussels (EU) and Nouméa most probably the distance will tend to increase with a potential independent New Caledonia.

The post New Caledonia: the Catalonia from the Pacific? appeared first on Brussels Express.

Jan Jambon said on Sunday, in an interview with VTM, that the Madrid government « went a too far » and asked « what do Europe expects to have an opinion on this issue? ». After questioning the role of the European institutions in this case, the Belgian minister went further and argued that « if it had happened in Poland or Hungary, the reactions would have been different. »

Jambon’s statements came on the day that Catalan President Carles Puigdemont and four of his former advisors – Antoni Comín, Clara Ponsatí, Lluís Puig  and Meritxell Serret – who were the targets of a European arrest warrant, turned themselves over to the Belgian authorities.

The Belgian prosecutor’s office ordered a few hours before the arrest of the deprived president of Catalonia and his former regional advisers.

Di Rupio also says no to the order of prison

The Vice-President of the European People’s Party, Esteban Gonzalez Pons, criticized Jambon’s words, saying they are « irresponsible and dangerous » and jeopardize « the necessary cooperation between EU states. »

In Belgium, former Prime Minister Elio di Rupio also criticised the « authoritarian » behavior with which the Spanish government led by Mariano Rajoy responded to the Catalan independence movement.

« I fight Puigdemont’s policy, but I would be very shocked if the Belgian justice system puts him in jail, » said Di Rupio through a Twitter message.

Before giving himself voluntarily to the authorities, Carles Puigdemont wrote on Twitter that he agreed to cooperate with the Belgian courts.

The post « How can an EU member state go this far? » says Jan Jambon about Spain appeared first on Brussels Express.

There is no more secrets. It’s confirmed: the man is here. The former President of the Catalonian regional government came to the Belgian capital on Monday and gave yesterday an incredible press conference at the Press Club Brussels Europe. Puigdemont’s speech raised two issues: Why is he Brussels? What does he really plan to do over the upcoming weeks?

If you remember well, the Catalonian referendum from October, 1 did not get any support from the European institutions. Both the European Commission’s President, Jean-Claude Juncker, and the European Council’s President, Donald Tusk, called to comply with the Spanish constitutional law and explicitly stated that the Spanish government was the only authority that they could, and will, talk with. Only Charles Michel, the Belgian Prime Minister, appealed for dialogue in order to find an acceptable political solution to everyone.

Carles Puigdemont decided to come to Brussels at the beginning of the week to “talk with the EU institutions”, in order to express the Catalonian point of view with regard to the events that took place in the Spanish region over the last couple of days. If you only consider the political opportunity: Puigdemont’s visit was surely useless. He knows he has no support across Europe and although he could have engaged a debate with the EU leaders, all the pro-independence Catalonian leaders are aware of the impossibility of the EU institutions changing their mind.

Even if Puigdemont has no support at the top political level, the public opinion has a different view on this issue. Multiple videos and pictures of police violence have been spread on the media and social media, and most of the EU citizens do not agree with the lack of democracy and violations of fundamental rights that took place in Catalonia. The press conference he gave at the Press Club Brussels Europe was then a perfect strategic opportunity. This tiny press room welcomed the press from all over Europe and the World rushed from where millions of people could hear Puigdemont’s speech. As the Rajoy’s government has been being not very efficient on its communication, it is probably the only rational reason why Carles Puigdemont and five members of his “government” have popped down in Brussels this week.

Now what?

That point is definitely unclear and uncertain. There are many reasons to doubt Puigdemont real motivations. The former President of the Catalan government stated he still was the “legitimate” head of the government and talked about the process of independence. Nevertheless, he stressed that the impossible dialogue with the Spanish government led him to reconsider the timing of the creation of the Republic of Catalonia. He indeed said that the Catalan government will slow down the process of independence. 

But the main point we should keep in mind is about the upcoming regional elections. In the framework of the article 155 of the Spanish constitution, Mariano Rajoy and the Spanish government have decided to set up new regional elections in Catalonia on December 21. Carles Puigdemont stated he was ready to take part of this election, as well as his political party will recognise the results of them.

How can a golpista recognise the results of elections set up by the authority that he pretends to have reversed? It then seems Carles Puigdemont admitted independence was not possible, isn’t it? Difficult to predict what will happen in the near future but following yesterday’s day the Catalonian independence seems to be seriously compromised. In the end, is it really surprising?

The post Carles, now what? appeared first on Brussels Express.

Puigdemont hold today a press conference at the Press Club Brussels Europe where he stated « I’m in Brussels not because of Belgium but because its the EU capital ». We are afraid for our safety. Madrid is acting in a vindictive way ». « I would like to remind you that since the referendum on first of October we have always kept our hand strechted for dialogue, to infinity. We reached the limit by suggesting to suspend the declaration of independence in exchange for a frank dialogue. This proposal was rejected by the Spanish PP and PSOE. Both of them unwilling to accept that they have a huge problem which they refuse to tacle politically but rather with repression ». he concluded. 

Catalonia vs. Europe

« We are here to ask for help. Europe needs to listen to us ». The European leaders don’t seem to be open to give an hand. Donald Tusk, the President of the European Council, said “Spain remains our only interlocutor”, while Jean-Claude Juncker, the President of the European Commission, asked to avoid more cracks and fractures than there are already in the European Union.

France, Germany and even the United States also supported the Spanish government and did not recognise the Catalan Parliament’s decision. « To the international community and especially to Europe, I ask them to react. The Catalan issue is at the very basis of the values on which Europe is founded: democracy, freedom of expression, hospitality and non-violence. It is a mistake that we can all pay at a very high cost as European citizens ».

The post « I’m in Brussels not because of Belgium but because it’s the EU capital » says Puigdemont appeared first on Brussels Express.

Yesterday, the State Secretary for Asylum and Migration in Belgium considered that Belgium could grant asylum to the president who was dismissed from the regional government of Catalonia if Carles Puigdemont wanted to seek asylum.

“No request was made, but things are evolving fast. We will closely follow what happens in the next few hours and days”said Theo Francken, in an interview with VRT radio.

The post Is Puigdemont considering Theo Francken proposal? appeared first on Brussels Express.