Spain’s Supreme Court on Tuesday said it had withdrawn an international arrest warrant for Catalonia’s pro-independence former leader, in self-imposed exile in Belgium.
The court said Carles Puigdemont and four of his cabinet members also in Belgium had shown a willingness to return to Spain to take part in Catalonia’s December 21 regional election.
Campaigning for the December election, called by Madrid in an effort to resolve a crisis over an independence bid by the wealthy northeastern region, started on Tuesday.
Spain’s Supreme Court on Tuesday said that arrest warrants had been withdrawn for Catalonia’s pro-independence former leader Carles Puigdemont and four of his cabinet members who are in self-imposed exile in Belgium
Madrid hopes parties in favour of unity with Spain will win the election. Pro-independence parties see the poll as a plebiscite on a split from Spain.
A Supreme Court spokesman said that the five could still be arrested if they go back to Spain, however, because they are still being sought for crimes related to the independence bid in northeastern Catalonia.
The spokesman asked not to be named in line with court rules.
Supreme Court magistrate Pablo Llarena said on Tuesday that individual European warrants don’t apply anymore because evidence has emerged that the alleged crimes were committed as part of a wider group.
He also said that the probed politicians have shown their ‘intention to return to Spain’ in order to run for elections in Catalonia.
Lawyers defending ousted Catalan president Carles Puigdemont arrive at the court in Brussels on Monday
Along with Puigdemont, warrants were also withdrawn for Antoni Comin, Lluis Puig, Meritxell Serret and Clara Ponsati.
It was not clear whether Puigdemont would return immediately to Spain, where he is likely to be detained pending investigations that could take months.
The five sacked politicians travelled to Belgium after a unilateral declaration of independence in the Catalan parliament on October 27, considered illegal by Spanish courts.
Puigdemont is facing charges of sedition, rebellion, misuse of public funds, disobedience and breach of trust.
A Spanish court issued an international arrest warrant for Puigdemont on November 3 on these charges.
Two ex-cabinet members, including Vice President Oriol Junqueras (pictured), and two separatist activists remain in custody
People show banners ‘Freedom’ during the demonstration to support Catalonian political leaders Oriol Junqueras, Joaquim Forn, and ANC president Jordi Sanchez and Omnium president Jordi Cuixart, who remain in prison by judicial decision, at Sant Jaume square in Barcelona, Spain, on Monday
The crimes are punishable in Spain with decades in prison.
Two ex-cabinet members, including Vice President Oriol Junqueras, and two separatist activists remain in custody.
There were no immediate reactions by Puigdemont and aides in Brussels to the judge’s announcement, but defense lawyer Paul Bekaert was taken by surprise when he heard the news from a reporter.
Puigdemont’s lawyers have said the crimes of which he and other cabinet members are accused are not punishable under Belgian law. The Belgian judge overseeing the extradition case was expected to deliver a verdict on December 14.
The extradition case between Spain and Belgium could have run for months as Belgian court decisions could be appealed in higher courts.