Belgian migration secretary: ex-Catalan leader can apply for political asylum

The Belgian secretary of state for migration and asylum on Sunday said that the sacked Catalan president could solicit political asylum in Belgium.


In an interview with Belgian news outlet VRT, Theo Francken, a member of the separatist New Flemish Alliance, said that Catalans who feel politically threatened could apply for asylum in Belgium, adding that option was also available for ex-regional president Carles Puigdemont if he feared imprisonment.

"At this moment we have not received any asylum request (from Puigdemont), but everything is moving very quickly. We will see what happens in the coming days and hours," Francken said.

He added that Belgium was one of the few European Union member states still to have political asylum programs for Europeans.
 EFE/EPA
 29/10/17
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