Spanish Supreme Court Upholds Catalan President Puigdemont Immunity, Arrest Warrant Lifted

Spain's Supreme Court has upheld the decision to lift the national arrest warrant against Carles Puigdemont, the former President of Catalonia. This ruling means Puigdemont, who currently serves as a Member of the European Parliament, will retain his parliamentary immunity.

Puigdemont fled to Belgium in October 2017 following a unilateral declaration of independence by the Catalan parliament, which he led. Spanish authorities subsequently issued an arrest warrant for charges including sedition and misuse of public funds.

The current legal development stems from a European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling in December 2019, which granted Puigdemont and two other Catalan politicians parliamentary immunity as MEPs. The Spanish Supreme Court's latest decision aligns with this, effectively nullifying the domestic warrant that prevented his return to Spain.

While the immediate arrest warrant has been lifted, the underlying charges against Puigdemont remain. Future legal proceedings regarding his involvement in the independence movement would require a formal request from Spanish authorities to the European Parliament to waive his immunity.

This outcome underscores the complex and protracted legal battle surrounding the Catalan independence movement, highlighting the ongoing tensions between regional aspirations and the central Spanish state. Western governments, including the UK, have largely maintained a stance of non-interference, prioritising bilateral relations with Madrid over recognising Catalan self-determination.