Page 8 - ARUBA TODAY

A8 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 1 november 2017

Failing at home, Catalan leader takes his fight to Europe

by the law in Spain, and to work, and that is why we
he conceded ground to decided Friday night on
the Spanish government this strategy,” he said.
by agreeing to take part in The Spanish government in
an early regional election Madrid has cracked down
called for Dec. 21. hard on Puigdemont’s at-
Even as Puigdemont’s tempt to take Catalonia,
quest to establish a new a wealthy region of some
Western European coun- 7.5 million people that ac-
try appeared increasingly counts for about one-fifth
quixotic, his grass roots sup- of the national GDP, out of
porters showed no signs Spain.It accused Puigde-
of wavering — a depth of mont of flouting the con-
passion that illustrates why stitution by holding an Oct.
the wrangling over Catalo- 1 independence referen-
nia has been going on for dum and deployed police
so long and why it is unlikely to stop the vote after the
to end soon. Constitutional Court said it
Puigdemont said he and could not go ahead. Then,
the five ousted govern- when the Catalan parlia-
Sacked Catalonian President Carles Puigdemont looks on after a press conference in Brussels, ment colleagues who ac- ment approved a motion
Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017. Ousted Catalan President Carles Puigdemont is calling for avoiding vio- companied him to Brussels declaring independence
lence and says dialogue is a priority during his first address on Belgian soil. Puigdemont on Tues- were seeking “freedom last week in defiance of the
day recapped the issues which led him to leave for Belgium the previous day, but did not imme- and safety” from the Span- Spanish Constitution, which
diately say in his statement what he would do in Brussels or whether he would seek asylum. ish authorities.If Spain “can says Spain is “indivisible,”
(AP Photo/Olivier Matthys) guarantee to all of us, and the national government
By RAF CASERT movement as persecuted Friday on whether to issue to me in particular, a just, in- stripped Catalonia of its
ARITZ PARRA underdogs who deserve in- arrest warrants. dependent (legal) process, powers of self-rule.Spain’s
Associated Press ternational backing in their In a high-profile appear- with separation of powers chief prosecutor is seeking
BRUSSELS (AP) — Facing fight against Madrid. ance before international that we have in the major- charges of rebellion, sedi-
possible criminal charges A Spanish judge, mean- media in the Belgian capi- ity of European nations — if tion and embezzlement
at home that could put him while, ordered Puigde- tal, Puigdemont kept up they guarantee that, we against Puigdemont, and
behind bars for decades, mont and the rest of his his defiant tone against would return immediately,” his No. 2, Oriol Junqueras,
ousted Catalan leader ousted Cabinet to appear the Spanish government’s Puigdemont told a packed before Spain’s National
Carles Puigdemont took his for questioning later this relentless efforts to thwart news conference at the Court, which on Tuesday
bid for independence from week as part of a rebel- his secession ambitions. Brussels Press Club, which is ordered the two men and
Spain to the heart of Europe lion probe. Whether they His unannounced trip un- right next to the European the rest of the ousted Cabi-
on Tuesday, attempting appear or not, the judge is derscored that his path to Union’s headquarters. net to appear for question-
to portray his secessionist likely to decide as soon as success is being blocked “But we have to continue ing on Thursday.q

Brexit talks to resume next week as UK seeks to ramp up pace

By JILL LAWLESS told a parliamentary com- 28-nation bloc. divorce terms to move onto next year to deal with ex-
Associated Press mittee that the sixth round The U.K. is due to leave future relations and trade. pected changes.
LONDON (AP) — of talks would start Nov. 7 in the EU in March 2019, and Davis insisted Tuesday he The government also says it
Divorce talks between Brussels. the stagnating talks have is confident Britain is “on has committed more than
Britain and the European Five previous rounds over- raised fears that it could timetable” to get a good 1.3 billion pounds ($1.7 bil-
Union will resume next seen by Davis and chief EU crash out without a deal, outcome by March 2019. lion) to cover Brexit costs
week, U.K. Brexit chief Da- negotiator Michel Barnier with huge economic and He also rebuffed allega- until 2022.
vid Davis said Tuesday as have failed to resolve big legal consequences. tions that Britain is unpre- Britain voted by 52 percent
he urged an intensification differences on key issues, Britain hopes EU leaders will pared for Brexit, saying to 48 percent in June 2016
of the spluttering negotia- including the amount Brit- declare at a meeting in the tax and customs de- to leave the EU, and the
tions. ain must pay to settle its December that talks have partment would recruit as country remains deeply di-
Brexit Secretary David Davis financial obligations to the made enough progress on many as 5,000 new staff vided over the issue. q