Who Is Carles Puigdemont? Catalan Leader Turns Himself Into Belgian Police

Carles Puigdemont, the ex-president of Catalonia, Spain, turned himself into the police in Belgium, Sunday. Spanish authorities have sought Puigdemont’s arrest for his connection to the recent attempt of Catalan independence.

Catalonia, a region in Spain, held a referendum to gain independence from Spain on Oct. 1. Around 92 percent of people who voted were in favor of seceding from Spain. Spanish authorities attempted to stop the vote which they declared illegal.

Catalan is relatively autonomous from Spain in several ways, including having its own local government led by Puigdemont. The Catalan parliament declared independence after the referendum and in response, Spanish authorities resolved the Catalan government and issued arrest warrants for several leaders including Puigdemont. The Catalan government attempted to negotiate a secession from Spain, but authorities had no interest in allowing the region to separate.

Puigdemont said that he wasn’t evading authorities, but was rather in Belgium to rally European support for his cause. He was arrested with four other members of the Catalan government who did not appear before a Spanish high court Thursday.

The charges the leaders face include sedition, rebellion, misuse of funds, abuse of authority and contempt.

Puigdemont, 54, became the president of Catalonia at the beginning of 2016. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy removed him from office in October, but Puigdemont said that he doesn’t recognize his removal from office.

Puigdemont started off as a journalist, but his interest in Catalonia and its independence led him to shift into politics full-time in 2006. He worked his way up to Catalan parliament and represented the political movement for independence.

Puigdemont married a fellow journalist, Marcela Topor, in 2000 and together they have two daughters.