Spain withdraws international arrest warrant for Puigdemont

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Spain's Supreme Court withdrew on Tuesday the international arrest warrant against former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont and four cabinet members.

The court said the five, who fled to Belgium following a unilateral declaration of independence in the Catalan parliament, have expressed willingness to return to Spain to take part in Catalonia's Dec. 21 regional election.

Campaigning for the election, called by Madrid in an effort to resolve a crisis over an independence bid by the wealthy northeastern region, started on Tuesday.

Madrid hopes parties in favor of unity with Spain will win the election. Pro-independence parties see the poll as a plebiscite on a split from Spain.

File photo of Carles Puigdemont. /Reuters Photo

It was not clear whether Puigdemont would return immediately to Spain, where he is likely to be detained pending investigation that could take months.

Puigdemont is facing charges of sedition, rebellion, misuse of public funds, disobedience and breach of trust. A Spanish court issued an international arrest warrant for Puigdemont on Nov. 3 on these charges.

Puigdemont's lawyers have said the crimes of which he and other cabinet members are accused are not punishable under Belgian law. The Belgian judge overseeing the extradition case was expected to deliver a verdict on Dec. 14.

The extradition case between Spain and Belgium could have run for months as Belgian court decisions could be appealed in higher courts.

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Source(s): Reuters