Carles Puidemont 'demands' support of European Parliament Former Catalan President Carles Puigdemont "demands" that the European Parliament "act as a guarantors" of the rights of Catalans at an event in Brussels. Puigdemont had been due to address reporters at the European Parliament at an event hosted by the Belgian MEP Ralph Packet, but his presence was furiously opposed by Spanish lawmakers, who regard his secession bid as illegal, and European Parliament president president Antonio Tajani banned the conference from the institution's premises for security reasons. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES of Carles Puigdemont and Ralph Packet, member of the European Parliament