Spain’s Constitutional Court has ruled that an amnesty law for Catalan separatists applies to Carles Puigdemont, a self-exiled leader. This ruling led to the lifting of an arrest warrant against him on embezzlement charges, allowing for his potential return to Spain without the risk of arrest.
Puigdemont, who was the president of Catalonia, fled to Belgium in 2017 following an independence referendum that the Spanish government deemed illegal. The referendum resulted in a unilateral declaration of independence from Spain, with 90 percent of voters supporting the move. Since then, Puigdemont has avoided multiple extradition attempts by Spain to face trial related to the referendum, while several of his associates have served prison time.
Members of Puigdemont’s political party, Junts, expressed support for his potential return. Jordi Turull, the secretary-general of Junts, stated, "It’s a great victory for President Puigdemont and the two other exiled leaders in Belgium. They held firm, they resisted, they prevailed in Europe, and today they have prevailed against the Spanish state."
Puigdemont's return comes as Spain prepares for a snap election in November, although a Junts official indicated he is unlikely to participate. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez maintained his position in 2023 with the support of Puigdemont’s Junts party and another Catalan party, which was part of the agreement for the amnesties.
However, Junts withdrew its support a year later, contributing to the government's failure to pass key housing measures amid ongoing protests. In response, Sanchez announced a snap election, hoping to galvanize his voter base. On Tuesday, he expressed no regrets regarding the amnesty and welcomed the court's ruling, emphasizing the importance of coexistence among Catalans.
Despite a decline in support for separatism and Junts trailing in opinion polls, Puigdemont's return could lead to renewed political tensions. The conservative People’s Party currently leads in polls ahead of the election and may require support from Junts and other center-right parties to form a government.