Spanish court lifts Puigdemont arrest warrant, allowing return before November election

The Spanish Constitutional Court ruled that a 2024 amnesty law for Catalan separatists applies to embezzlement charges against Carles Puigdemont, according to Al Jazeera. Following that ruling, a Supreme Court judge lifted Puigdemont's arrest warrant on Tuesday, reported DW. The decision clears the way for his return to Spain without risk of arrest, according to both outlets.

Puigdemont fled to Belgium in 2017 after leading an independence referendum that Madrid declared illegal, Al Jazeera stated. Catalonia unilaterally declared independence that year, with 90 percent of voters backing independence in the referendum, Al Jazeera added. Jordi Turull, secretary-general of Puigdemont’s Junts party, said the warrant lift is a ‘great victory’ for Puigdemont and the other exiled leaders, according to Al Jazeera.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez welcomed the court decision, saying it would allow Catalonia to ‘look to the future,’ DW reported. Sanchez also said the ruling helps Catalan society, as it has been demanding throughout this time, according to DW. After Junts withdrew its support last year and voted against government housing measures, Sanchez called a snap election for November 29, DW stated.

Around 400 separatists have benefited from the amnesty law, but Puigdemont had been excluded until the Constitutional Court’s ruling, DW reported. Sanchez’s government passed the amnesty law in 2024 to ease tensions in Catalonia and secure backing from separatist parties, Al Jazeera noted. Junts withdrew its support last year, accusing Sanchez of failing to fulfill promises such as providing amnesty for its leader, according to DW. Opinion polls show the conservative People’s Party leading ahead of the November election and possibly needing Junts’ support to govern, Al Jazeera mentioned.