Pro-independence leaders meet in Waterloo

A top-level meeting between Catalan pro-independence leaders is taking place in Waterloo, the Belgian city where former president Carles Puigdemont resides. Attendees include Puigdemont himself, as well as president Quim Torra and the leader of Esquerra Republicana (ERC) party in parliament, Sergi Sebrià.

Government sources ruled out commenting on the reasons behind the meeting. Torra and Puigdemont are expected to address the press after the event.

According to earlier media reports, Puigdemont was to launch the Council of the Republic on Monday, a private body aimed at making the case for Catalan independence from abroad.

Other politicians attending the summit include Junts per Catalunya (JxCat) spokesperson in parliament, Albert Batet, PDeCAT’s vice president Míriam Nogueras, as well as former Catalan minister and ERC MP Toni Comín.