A judge from the Spanish Supreme Court lifted the arrest warrant for Carles Puigdemont, the Catalan separatist leader, on Tuesday, 6 October, allowing him to return to Spain without fear of detention for the first time in nearly a decade. Puigdemont, who was the former regional president of Catalonia, fled to Belgium in 2017 after leading a failed attempt to secede Catalonia from Spain. Since then, he has evaded Spanish attempts to extradite him, while many of his associates and supporters have served time in prison.
Puigdemont appears poised to return to Spain just as the country prepares for a national election next month. However, it remains uncertain how his return will affect the campaign; given his unpopularity in much of Spain, opposition parties will likely try to use it to undermine incumbent Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
The key legal hurdle for Puigdemont was cleared when Supreme Court judge Pablo Llarena lifted the arrest warrant moments after Spain’s Constitutional Court announced it would apply a government amnesty to one of Puigdemont’s political allies who had been convicted of misusing public funds. Llarena said he was lifting Puigdemont’s arrest warrant while awaiting the Constitutional Court’s decision, which is expected to affect the warrant.
In a statement from Waterloo, Belgium, where he has lived since fleeing Spain, Puigdemont did not announce any plans to return but celebrated his victory over the Spanish authorities. He reaffirmed his stance that Catalonia should become an independent state, stating, “What was decided today means the end of the age of political repression that lasted for nine years simply because we voted for our country to be free. However, regarding the relationship between Spain and Catalonia, it solves nothing.”
Despite living abroad, Puigdemont has retained a loyal following among committed Catalan separatists in northeastern Spain, even as the independence movement has weakened. His flair for the dramatic was evident in 2024 when he unexpectedly appeared in Barcelona, delivered a public speech, and managed to evade police.
He continues to lead his Junts party from abroad and retains a significant influence in Spanish politics. Junts’ “No“ vote was crucial in the Spanish progressive government losing two key votes in Parliament this week as it tried to push through emergency housing measures amid public protests.
Puigdemont’s fate has become intertwined with that of Prime Minister Sánchez, who stayed in power in 2023 with support from Puigdemont’s Junts in exchange for amnesty. This week, in response to Junts blocking his housing measures, Sánchez announced a snap election for 29 November, hoping that voter discontent over housing issues will mobilise his supporters.
This article used information from The Associated Press.
