Spain issues arrest warrant for ousted Catalan leader

Spain on Friday issued an arrest warrant on sedition and other charges against Carles Puigdemont, tightening the judicial net around the former Catalan leader who went to Brussels after his government was sacked over a declaration of independence.

A Madrid High Court judge asked Belgium to arrest Mr. Puigdemont and four associates after they ignored a court order to return to Spain on Thursday to answer charges of rebellion, sedition, misuse of public funds, disobedience and breach of trust relating to their secessionist



campaign.

The judge rejected a request from Mr. Puigdemont to testify via video conference from Belgium.

In Brussels, a federal prosecutor said Belgian authorities would study the warrant before handing it to a judge. “We will give it to an investigative judge maybe tomorrow or the day after,” Eric Van der Sypt told Reuters.

Mr. Puigdemont, who is considering standing in a snap election in the region on December 21, has said he did not trust Spanish justice but would cooperate with the Belgian courts.