Former Catalan separatist leader Puigdemont possible contender for Nobel Peace Prize
Record ID:
1434074
Former Catalan separatist leader Puigdemont possible contender for Nobel Peace Prize
- Title: Former Catalan separatist leader Puigdemont possible contender for Nobel Peace Prize
- Date: 27th September 2019
- Summary: Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont arrives at a sports centre in the village of Sant Julia de Ramis where police prevented voters from casting their ballots and denounces police violence against those participating in October 1 independence referendum in Catalonia. SANT JULIA DE RAMIS, SPAIN (FILE - OCTOBER 1, 2017) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** (SOUNDBITE) (English) REGIONAL PRESIDENT OF CATALONIA, CARLES PUIGDEMONT, WALKING WITH SUPPORTERS, SAYING: "Shame on you Mr. Mariano Rajoy, shame on you." SUPPORTERS OF PUIGDEMONT AT SANT JULIA DE RAMIS TOWN HALL CLAPPING PUIGDEMONT HOLDING RED CARNATION ABOVE HIS HEAD AS CROWD SHOUTING (Catalan): "WE WILL VOTE!" PUIGDEMONT SURROUNDED BY MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Catalan) REGIONAL PRESIDENT OF CATALONIA, CARLES PUIGDEMONT, SAYING: "Violence, batons, rubber bullets, indiscriminate aggressions against peaceful people who gathered to protect ballot boxes, ballot papers, and polling stations." Puigdemont proclaims the region's independence from Spain in a key speech at the regional parliament, but says the effects will be postponed to allow for talks. The Spanish government had said any unilateral declaration of independence would be illegal and promised action "to restore law and democracy" if the parliament of the autonomous and affluent northeastern region pressed ahead. BARCELONA, SPAIN (FILE - OCTOBER 10, 2017) (REUTERS) PUIGDEMONT ARRIVING AT CATALONIA'S PARLIAMENT
- Embargoed: 11th October 2019 18:45
- Keywords: Catalonia Carles Puigdemont extradition Spain Catalonia independence vote Germany
- Location: GIRONA, SANT JULIA DE RAMIS, CORNELLA DE TERRI AND BARCELONA, SPAIN/ BRUSSELS, BELGIUM/ NEUMUENSTER AND BERLIN, GERMANY / GRANOLLERS, SPAIN
- City: GIRONA, SANT JULIA DE RAMIS, CORNELLA DE TERRI AND BARCELONA, SPAIN/ BRUSSELS, BELGIUM/ NEUMUENSTER AND BERLIN, GERMANY / GRANOLLERS, SPAIN
- Country: Spain
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA004AYGQ0CN
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY
Catalonia's former separatist leader Carles Puigdemont has been tipped as a potential candidate for the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize.
The former Catalan regional president, living in self-imposed exile in Belgium, is wanted in Spain for his role in Catalonia's independence drive.
A champion of self-determination for Catalan separatists, he was instrumental in organising a secessionist referendum deemed illegal by Spanish courts and led the wealthy northeastern region when it unilaterally declared independence in 2017.
Puigdemont, 56, and five other former Catalan leaders in self-imposed exile in European countries face arrested if they return to Spain where they face charges of rebellion and a long prison sentence if found guilty.
In July 2018, Spanish courts lifted the European arrest warrants for Puigdemont after a German court ruled that he could be extradited to Spain to face a separate charge of misuse of public funds, but not for the rebellion charge, something that Spain decided not to accept.
From Belgium, Puigdemont ran again for office in the December 2017 Catalan regional elections and was proposed for president by a parliamentary majority, but Spanish courts banned his attempt to assume office from outside the country.
In May Puigdemont was elected to the European Parliament as the leading candidate of Junts per Catalunya (JxCat), his political party, but could not take his seat as Spanish law requires elected candidates to pick up their accreditation in Spain where they must also swear to uphold the constitution. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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