The dismissed Catalan President Carles Puigdemont and five former members of his government will seek political asylum in Belgium according to information obtained from the Spanish channel La Sexta that confirms the daily El Periodico. The Belgian news agency Belga reports that the Catalonian ministers are in Brussels Monday for a private reception by the N-VA, but without being able to confirm the news.

According to El Periodico, four of the five ex-ministers concerned are Meritxell Borràs (PDECat, health), Toni Comín (ERC, interior), Joaquim Forn (PDECat, labor and social affairs) and Dolors Bassa (ERC). The name of the fifth minister remains unknown. Several Spanish media report that they’ll give a press conference in the evening.

The Spanish government does not seem worried about Carles Puigdemont’s trip. According to Fernando Martínez-Maillo, general secretary of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s People’s Party, it’s “a sign of absolute despair”.

Maria Novak

The Brussels Times