Puigdemont Cleared to Return to Spain as Arrest Warrant Is Lifted

Carles Puigdemont, the self-exiled leader of Catalan separatism, is poised to return to Spain after the country’s Constitutional Court determined that an amnesty law covers embezzlement charges against him. Following the ruling, a Supreme Court judge lifted the arrest warrant on Tuesday, removing the legal barrier that had prevented his return for fear of detention.

Puigdemont fled to Belgium in 2017 while serving as Catalonia’s president, following a unilateral independence referendum that Madrid declared illegal. After the vote, in which 90 percent of participants supported separation, Catalonia declared independence, prompting a major political crisis. Since then, Puigdemont has evaded multiple Spanish extradition attempts, while numerous associates and supporters have served prison time.

Members of Puigdemont’s party, Junts, celebrated the development. Jordi Turull, the party’s secretary-general, stated that the exiled leaders had “prevailed against the Spanish state” after maintaining their resistance in Europe.

The potential return comes as Spain prepares for a snap election scheduled for November. Although a Junts official indicated that Puigdemont is unlikely to participate directly in the campaign, his homecoming could reignite political tensions. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called the early election hoping to mobilize voters angry over housing issues, following Junts’ withdrawal of support for his minority government earlier this year.

Sanchez expressed no regret over the amnesty deal, telling reporters that the key message should be one of “coexistence among Catalans.” The agreement had originally allowed Sanchez to remain in power in 2023 in exchange for Junts backing his government. However, opinion polls show separatism losing ground, with Junts trailing behind Spain’s conservative People’s Party, which currently leads the race and may require Junts’ support to form a government.