Court ruling clears key hurdle for separatist leader Puigdemont's return to Spain
The ruling clears a major legal hurdle for Carles Puigdemont’s possible return after Spanish courts refused to apply the 2024 law to embezzlement.
- On Tuesday, Spanish Supreme Court judge Pablo Llarena revoked the national arrest warrant for Carles Puigdemont, removing a major legal hurdle to the former president of Catalonia returning to Spain after the Constitutional Court endorsed the 2024 amnesty law.
- Previously, the Supreme Court refused to apply the amnesty law covering the "procés" to embezzlement charges, but the Constitutional Court overruled this after upholding an appeal from Bassa, forcing the warrant's cancellation.
- After Madrid invoked the Spanish Constitution in October 2017, Puigdemont fled to Belgium, though he briefly returned to Barcelona in August 2024 for the investiture of Salvador Illa before departing again.
- According to Infobae, Puigdemont will make an "institutional declaration" on Tuesday evening at Waterloo, Belgium, appearing alongside former regional ministers Antoni Com, Llu, and Puig at 6pm CET.
- The adoption of the 2024 amnesty law has opened the prospect of a definitive return for Puigdemont and other independence leaders to Spain, marking a significant shift in legal status for those who fled.
93 Articles
93 Articles
An arrest warrant was abrogated following a decision of the Constitutional Court.
Spanish judge lifts arrest warrant for exiled Catalan separatist leader
A Spanish judge on Tuesday lifted an arrest warrant for exiled Catalan former separatist leader Carles Puigdemont, paving the way for his return to Spain ahead of a general election in November.
Sueddeutsche Zeitung
After nine years in exile, the Catalan separatist leader can return to Spain without a threat of imprisonment. The Supreme Court has previously lifted an arrest warrant against him.
Spanish judge lifts arrest warrant for ex-Catalan leader Puigdemont
The former regional president has lived abroad since Catalonia's unilateral declaration of independence in 2017, and left the country without being detained after a brief public appearance in Barcelona in 2024.
Decision clears way for return nearly 9 years after independence bid, but does not finalize amnesty in his case
Catalan independentism leader Carles Puigdemont can return to Spain today, eight years after his escape to Belgium following the unilateral independence referendum of October 1, 2017, without fear...
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