‘Useful IDIOT’ Exiled Catalan leader Puigdemont mocked for becoming part of ‘Putin’s club’

The pro-Western European Values group said the former president of Catalonia had been picked for the less than prestigious accolade because of his appearance on the “Kremlin disinformation pseudo-journalistic outlet RT”.

Mr Puigdemont was a guest on the Alex Salmond Show, which was broadcast by the Russian-backed channel earlier this month to discuss the upcoming elections in the region.

The ballot on December 21 was called after the Spanish government dissolved the regional parliament after a failed independence bid, led by Mr Puigdemont, in October.

But using an “expert jury”, European Values, which says it aims to defend liberal democracy, scored the former Catalan leader a 4.2 out of five for his “Putin-supportive job”. 

Spanish officials claim they have evidence Russian-based groups used social media to promote Catalonia’s separatist movement independence in an attempt to sow division and destabilise Spain.

However Catalan leaders have denied any interference from Moscow.

During his interview on RT, Mr Puigdemont said: “If the majority of Catalan people want to be independent, this is a real answer, it is a reality.

“And we must make politics with the reality, not with the fantasy.

“Of course I think the Spanish government and the European authorities would like a Catalonia without people who want independence, but it is real.”

He said if pro-independence parties won in the elections scheduled next month, then Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and EU leaders must “start a new era of dialogue and negotiation”.

When asked by Mr Salmond for his “message to the Catalan people”, the deposed Catalan leader said said: “We must be confident, resilient because we will win. We will succeed. Finally, democracy will prevail.”

Catalan officials said of the 43 per cent of eligible voters who took part in the October 1 independence vote, 90 per cent backed a split from Spain.

Mr Puigdemont joins other award winners including Marine Le Pen, leader of the French Front National, who scored 3.6 for her “relentless support of Putin’s aggressive foreign policy” including the annexation of Crimea.

Other winners include American actor Steven Seagal, who scored 3.7 for his “Putin puppet work” and Julian Assange, who scored 4.7.

European Values believes that in order for the Czech Republic to remain “free, safe and prosperous”, it must remain “an integral part of the West”.

RT, formerly known as Russia Today, has faced criticism for being a mouthpiece for the Russian government.

But Mr Salmond defended his new political talk show, arguing he has complete editorial control over its content.