BRUSSELS: Belgium could offer asylum to Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont, the country’s immigration minister has suggested, as the Spanish political crisis rages.
Puigdemont was officially deposed by Madrid as president of the Calatan region on Friday after its parliament unilaterally declared independence from Spain, and now faces possible criminal charges of rebellion.
Belgian Immigration Minister Theo Francken, a member of the Flemish separatist N-VA party, questioned whether Puigdemont could be sure of a fair trial and said he could be given asylum in Belgium if he asked for it.
“It’s not unrealistic (that Belgium could protect Puigdemont), looking at the current situation,” Francken told Flemish-language broadcaster VTM on Saturday.
“Looking at the repression by Madrid and the jail sentences that are being proposed, the question can be asked whether he still has the chance for an honest court hearing.”
So far there has been no indication that Puidgemont will seek to leave Catalonia, and on Sunday his deputy insisted he “is and will remain” the president of the regional government.
The unprecedented Catalan crisis was triggered by a banned independence referendum on October 1 that was shunned by many, and marred by police violence, after which the regional parliament voted on Friday to declare independence from Spain.
Madrid dissolved the regional government in response and called an election to replace them, while the international community has spurned the independence declaration and united behind Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.
There was trenchant support for Madrid from London, Paris, Berlin and the European Union, but Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel — who governs in coalition with the separatist N-VA — gave a more measured response, calling for “a peaceful solution respecting the national and international order.”
Belgium could offer Catalan leader asylum
Belgium could offer Catalan leader asylum
Pull him off TV: Steve Bannon shuts down Sen. Lindsey Graham
- Trump’s former chief strategist called for the senator to be registered as a foreign agent
DUBAI: Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon called on Tuesday for US Sen. Lindsey Graham to be registered as a foreign agent of the Israeli government, escalating a growing conservative backlash against the senator’s vocal support for Israel.
Speaking on his podcast “War Room,” Bannon said Graham should be “pulled off of television.”
“This is dangerous … because you have guys like Lindsey Graham and dozens more that are doing the wrong thing,” said Bannon.
In a Fox News interview on Monday, Graham said: “To all the antisemites, to all the isolationists … I’m not with you, I’m with Israel, I will be with Israel to our dying day.”
Graham also urged Gulf Arab states to join military action against Iran. “What I want you to do in the Middle East, to our friends in Saudi Arabia and other places, (is) step forward and say ‘this is my fight too, I join America, I’m publicly involved in bringing this regime down,’” he said.
In a post on X, Graham questioned the value of a US defense agreement with Saudi Arabia following the evacuation of the American Embassy in Riyadh, writing: “Why should America do a defense agreement with a country like the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that is unwilling to join a fight of mutual interest?”
Faisal J. Abbas, editor-in-chief of Arab News, responded to Graham’s comments in a Sky News interview, saying: “He flip flops so much, it’s actually entertaining.”
“On one hand, he says he will never set foot in Saudi Arabia. The next day, he’s here signing multimillion-dollar deals.”
“I don’t think anyone here takes him seriously,” Abbas added.
He warned Graham to be careful what he wished for: “Do you really want Saudi Arabia involved in this war putting our oil facilities at risk or do you want us stabilizing the energy markets?”
Graham pressed further, warning that inaction would carry a price. “Hopefully Gulf Cooperation Council countries will get more involved as this fight is in their backyard. If you are not willing to use your military now, when are you willing to use it?”
“Hopefully this changes soon. If not, consequences will follow.”
The American Embassy is being evacuated in Riyadh because of sustained attacks by Iran against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) March 9, 2026
It is my understanding the Kingdom refuses to use their capable military as a part of an effort to end the barbaric and terrorist Iranian regime who has…
Graham’s remarks drew sharp criticism from Bannon and others including podcast host Megyn Kelly.
She questioned on X whether Graham was overstepping his authority as a senator, writing: “When did Lindsey Graham become our president?”
Kelly also said Graham had threatened Lebanon, Cuba, Saudi Arabia, the wider Arab region, and Spain within a 24-hour period.
When did Lindsay Graham become our president? In the past 24 hours he’s threatened Lebanon, Cuba, the Saudis, the wider Arab region and now - checks notes - Spain https://t.co/h53EuFJRyQ
— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) March 10, 2026
The problem with Graham “isn’t (just) that he’s a homicidal maniac, it’s that Trump likes and is listening to him,” she said in another post.
Let’s get real. The problem with Lindsay Graham isn’t (just) that he’s a homicidal maniac, it’s that Trump likes and is listening to him, and Trump’s favorite channel is parading him around like a Hefner bunny in stockings on every show.
— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) March 10, 2026
