Brussels win shows 'strength' of independence cause, says Puigdemont

Winning a seat in the European Parliament shows "the strength of his project" from "exile," according to former president Carles Puigdemont, who said the victory was the "winning strategy" for the independence movement.

Puigdemont also said the result was a testament to the "persistence" of the efforts towards independence, and pointed to the defeat of Spanish foreign minister and unionist, Josep Borrell, calling on him to listen to"the voice of the October 1 referendum."

Puigdemont's Lliures per Europa ticket got the most votes in Catalonia, some 950,000, winning two seats in the European Parliament, which will be taken up by Puigdemont and his former minister, Toni Comín.

Another former minister and councilor-elect in Barcelona, Elsa Artadi, commented on the "exiled" Puigdemont and "jailed" Oriol Junqueras winning seats in the European Parliament, warning Spain that it can "no longer hide the disgrace of its repression."