Catalonia's Former Leader Can Return to Spain After Court Lifts Arrest Warrant
The Supreme Court's decision ends a nearly decade-long legal battle for Carles Puigdemont, who fled into exile after leading a failed independence bid.
Spain's Supreme Court has ruled that Carles Puigdemont, the former president of Catalonia, can return to the country without fear of arrest. The decision marks the end of a lengthy legal dispute for Puigdemont, who has been living in self-imposed exile for nearly a decade following his leadership of a failed Catalan independence movement in 2017.
The court upheld a previous decision to lift an arrest warrant linked to the 2017 referendum, which was organized by the Catalan government in defiance of Madrid. Following the vote, Spain imposed direct rule on Catalonia, and Puigdemont fled to Belgium. He made a brief, unannounced appearance in Barcelona in 2024, which led to a police manhunt.
Puigdemont was elected as a member of the European Parliament in 2019 and also to the Catalan parliament in 2024 as the leader of the center-right Together for Catalonia (JxCat) party. He has continued to be an active political figure, advocating for Catalan independence across Europe.
His return to Spain is now possible following a recent ruling. In 2024, Spain's socialist government enacted an amnesty for numerous Catalan politicians and activists involved in the secession drive. However, the Supreme Court had initially excluded Puigdemont and some colleagues due to allegations of financial crimes related to the referendum. This interpretation was later overruled by the Constitutional Court, and the Supreme Court's rejection of an appeal by the far-right Vox party on Monday paved the way for Puigdemont and former ministers Lluís Puig and Toni Comín to return.
Comín, formerly the regional minister for health, plans to travel to Madrid this week to complete administrative procedures related to his status as a Member of the European Parliament.
The 2017 independence bid and the subsequent events triggered Spain's most significant political crisis since the restoration of democracy after Francisco Franco's death. The banned referendum was met with a forceful police response, leading to the Catalan parliament's dissolution and the dismissal of its leaders by Madrid.
Despite Puigdemont's continued political engagement, Catalan independence has become a less prominent issue in Spain, with housing and immigration now dominating the political landscape. JxCat's parliamentary support was crucial for Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to form his current government after the 2023 election. However, within Catalonia, the JxCat party has faced challenges, with a far-right, pro-independence party attracting many of its voters.