He also challenged Madrid and the European Union to respect the result of Catalan regional elections in December, saying Spain’s central government would have to end direct rule if separatists win.
Speaking from Belgium where he fled earlier this month, Mr Puigdemont said the vote was the most important in Catalonia’s history.
After supporters cheered “Puigdemont, our president”, he asked: “Will you accept the results of December 21 if the pro-independence camp wins?”
“Do you commit to ending (direct rule) if that is the result?”
Puigdemont said from the town of Oostkamp near Bruges, part of Belgium’s Flemish region that has its own separatist aspirations: “On December 21 we must tell Madrid, the EU and the tripartite support for direct rule that democracy in Catalonia must not be undermined. Never again in Catalonia!”
EU leaders are extremely wary of Catalonia’s search for independence because it has stirred separatist feelings far beyond Spanish borders.
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker this month in Madrid called on Europe to reject what he called separatist poison.
A Belgian court has granted Puigdemont conditional release but he is barred from leaving Belgium without a judge’s consent.