Spanish king ‘insulted’, rapper flees to Belgium

https://twitter.com/valtonyc/status/1014836051481907200

In this tweet, with its photo from Belgium, Spanish rapper Josep Valtònyc said (translated):

Today is a great day. Spain no longer plays in the World Cup but I’m still in the quarterfinals. Press conference in Brussels today at 5pm commenting on the match and key moves. [Spanish sports journalist Tomàs] Roncero, do not cry.

Translated from Dutch NOS TV today:

The rapper Valtònyc, who was convicted of lèse majesté in Spain, reported yesterday to the Belgian judiciary in Ghent. Spain has submitted an extradition request to Belgium. Valtònyc may await the decision in freedom, provided that he remains in Belgium.

José Miquel Arenas Beltrán, as the 24-year-old rapper is called really, is the first artist since the fall of dictator Franco in 1975 who was convicted of lèse majesté. At the end of May he had to start a prison sentence of 3.5 years because of insulting the Spanish crown …

Valtònyc fled after his conviction. He wrote on Twitter that “disobedience is an obligation towards this fascist state“. …

Puigdemont

At a press conference, recorded by the El Mundo newspaper, Valtònyc said yesterday that he was inspired by the Catalan separatist leader Puigdemont. He fled to Belgium after the organization of an … independence referendum and now awaits an extradition request in Germany. Puigdemont expressed sympathy for Valtònyc’s situation.

The rapper said yesterday that he does not regret his lyrics. He also says he is not afraid of extradition. “I am not in danger, I have not done anything wrong. Here (in Belgium), they sing against the king and nothing happens. Spain is an exception in that respect. What happens there is not normal.”