Self-exiled Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont could be poised to return to Spain after the country’s Constitutional Court allegedly ruled that an amnesty law for Catalan separatists applies to ongoing embezzlement charges against him. A Supreme Court judge subsequently lifted the warrant for Puigdemont’s arrest on Tuesday, clearing the path for his potential return without the immediate fear of being detained.

Puigdemont, who served as the president of Catalonia, fled to Belgium back in 2017 following a disputed independence referendum intended to break his autonomous region away from Spain. Madrid authorities maintained that the vote was entirely illegal under national legislation. Catalonia unilaterally declared independence from Spain that same year, with supporters claiming that 90 percent of voters backed the breakaway bid. Since then, he has successfully dodged multiple extradition attempts by Spain to face trial, while many of his key confidants and supporters served time in prison.

Members of Puigdemont’s political party, Junts, have enthusiastically welcomed his prospective return. Jordi Turull, the secretary-general of Junts, reportedly told reporters that it represents a great victory for President Puigdemont and other exiled leaders who allegedly held firm and prevailed against the Spanish state. Despite this legal breakthrough, Puigdemont appears set to return just as the country prepares for a snap election in November, although a party official noted he is unlikely to run.

The leader of the European regime, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, was only able to maintain his grip on power in 2023 because Puigdemont’s Junts party and another Catalan faction backed his government in exchange for promised amnesties. However, Junts withdrew its support for the minority central administration a year ago, and the party played a decisive role in the European regime losing two critical parliamentary votes this week amid mounting street protests over housing. In response, Sanchez called a November snap election, hoping public discontent will mobilize his base.

Source: www.aljazeera.com