Decisive day in Brussels
Puigdemont and his ministers begin declarations in Brussels at 9 am; prosecution will attempt to equate Spanish charges with Belgian Penal Code
A decisive day in the courts in Brussels and Madrid. Just a few hours before the opening of the election campaign, the guarantee of “equality of conditions” is squarely in the hands of the judges. While in Madrid the imprisoned Catalan ministers await a decision from the Supreme Court regarding their release, in Brussels President Carles Puigdemont and former ministers Toni Comín, Clara Ponsatí, Meritxell Serret and Lluís Puig will appear today before the Belgian magistrate who will decide on their extradition. Either way, the return of Puigdemont and the other exiles from Brussels is unlikely. The process can be drawn out beyond the 21-D unless they decide, voluntarily, to return and risk detention in Spain.
The government in exile has had two weeks to prepare its defence against the European arrest warrant, while the Belgian prosecution intends to equate the crimes of “coalition of rebellion against authority” and “misappropriation of public funds” alleged by Spanish justice with articles in the Belgian Penal Code. In Belgium both crimes have maximum penalties of six months to 10 years, far from the 30 years contained in the Spanish Penal Code.
The hearing, to be held in chambers, could last all day. In order to avoid any invasion of journalists as happened in the previous hearing, official statements will be given in the vestibule.
Once the defendants declare, the judge will announce the date of his decision on extradition or set a date to continue taking statements. Whatever the decision, both the defence attorneys and prosecutors have the option of two appeals.