2017–18 Spanish constitutional crisis

Puigdemont is on a wanted warrant in Spain for holding a referendum on Catalonia's independence two years ago.
The protests against that referendum came not only from Madrid but also from Brussels.

One of the most prominent figures against independence for the Spanish region of Catalonia staged a counter-protest on Oct. 20 after a week of separatist unrest and called for an end to the violence.

Turkey's Foreign Ministry issued a warning late on Oct. 18 for its citizens traveling to the Spanish region of Catalonia due to security concerns in its capital, Barcelona.

The leader of Spain's Catalonia region condemned increasing unrest in the city of Barcelona on Oct. 17, as protests intensified three days after nine leaders of a 2017 independence bid were sentenced to up to 13 years in jail.

Belgium has received a third European arrest warrant request from Spain's Supreme Court for former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont, a spokeswoman for the Brussels prosecutor said on Oct. 16.

Spain's acting Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and opposition leader Pablo Casado of the Popular Party (PP) have agreed to open up a permanent communication channel on the issue of Catalonia, where the independence drive has deeply divided the region.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez confirmed on Friday a general election would be held in Spain on April 28, reported Euro News. 

The decision followed the Spanish parliament's rejection of the government's preliminary 2019 budget on Wednesday.

Spain's Supreme Court on Oct. 25 ordered 18 former Catalan leaders to stand trial over their role in last year's declaration of independence.

Former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont has nominated a political newcomer to be the region's new president.

In a video from his self-imposed exile in Berlin, Mr Puigdemont named Quim Torra to be a candidate for the presidency of the region.

Mr Torra is an MP from Mr Puigdemont's pro-independence party, Together for Catalonia (JxCat).

Ousted Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont called for immediate "political dialogue" to end the row with Madrid as he left a German jail on bail on April 6 after judges rejected his extradition to Spain on a rebellion charge.