Asylum? Catalan President Puigdemont goes to Belgium

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Ousted Catalan President Carles Puigdemont has left Spain and traveled to Brussels amid a federal takeover in the regional capital of Barcelona by authorities from Madrid, media and government officials said.

Puigdemont and five aides went to Brussels on Monday to meet with lawyers, the German press agency DPA reported. It was confirmed by Spain's ruling People Party.

Belgium Asylum Secretary Theo Francken has said it's "not realistic" for Puigdemont to claim asylum in Brussels.

Puigdemont has not made a public comment regarding his intentions in Belgium. He has appealed for the European people to support liberty.

“We are doing what we are doing because we believe in peaceful democratic values,” Puigdemont said in a rare English statement on October 20. “What we are fighting — what you are fighting for — is exactly the same thing.”

The Catalan president faces sedition charges issued by a court in Spain after the Catalan parliament declared independence on Friday. Puigdemont has not been summoned yet. If prosecuted and found guilty of “rebellion,” Puigdemont could have to serve up to 30 years in a Spanish prison.

Catalonia's independence bid was met by overwhelming foreign opposition and support for the Spanish government including Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to take necessary measures permitted under the constitution to prevent the separation.

Rajoy sacked Puigdemont, his ministers, parliament, and called for elections. The separatist parties are permitted to stand in the elections. They had called for non-violent civil disobedience, but on Monday Reuters reported "no sign of widespread absenteeism."

Puigdemont opted for the presidency not to declare independence; instead, the regional parliament put the declaration to an anonymous vote in a plenary session. It passed with 70 of 135 MPs in favor (53 boycotted, 10 voted against and 2 abstained) on Saturday.

Catalonia held a referendum on October 1 in which 92 percent of ballots indicated 'Yes' for independence. Turnout was low with 43 percent of registered voters participating. Many 'No' voters boycotted. Videos showed some ballot boxes being seized by Spanish police.