Spain Withdraws Diplomatic Status of Flanders Representative Over Support of Catalan Separatists

Spain Withdraws Diplomatic Status of Flanders Representative Over Support of Catalan Separatists
Flemish Parliament Chairman Jan Peumans enraged Madrid by saying that the lock up of Catalan leaders meant Spain was no longer a democracy fit for membership of the European Union. Nicolas Maeterlinck/AFP/Getty Images
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BRUSSELS—Separatists in Belgium have become embroiled in an extraordinary diplomatic row with Spain over vocal support of a top separatist Flemish politician for Catalan separatists.

Political leaders in Flanders, a Flemish-speaking region of Belgium, accused Madrid of a “very hostile act” after Spanish officials decided to expel the Flemish representative in Madrid in retaliation for public criticism.