Let me come back, Catalan leader tells Spain
BRUSSELS - Catalonia's separatist leader Carles Puigdemont on Saturday called on the Spanish government to allow him to return to Spain in time for the opening session of the Catalan parliament by January 23 so that he can become the region's next president.
Puigdemont, who ruled in Catalonia until October and faces arrest in Spain for his role in organising an illegal referendum on independence and proclaiming a Catalan republic, is currently in a self-imposed exile in Belgium.
Separatist parties secured a parliamentary majority in a regional election on Thursday, though it is still unclear whether Puigdemont and other jailed leaders of the movement will be able to attend the sessions of the assembly.
"I want to come back to Catalonia as soon as possible. I would like to come back right now. It would be a good news for Spain," Puigdemont told Reuters in an interview.
