Spain - January 2023

Following penal code amendments, the Spanish Supreme Court dropped the sedition charges against ex-Catalan president Carles Puigdemont for his role in the 2017 secession attempt. A sentence for sedition charges ranges between nine and 15 years. The new ruling also frees five other separatists (Antonio Comin, Lluis Puig, Clara Ponsatí and Marta Rovira) from sedition charges. All the five individuals – now living in self-imposed exile – would still face other charges upon return to Spain. Puigdemont still faces charges for disobedience and embezzlement in Spain. Before issuing a European arrest warrant, the Supreme Court is waiting for the European Union’s Court of Justice (CJEU) decision on the immunity of Carles Puigdemont, Toni Comín, and Clara Ponsatí, due to their roles as Members of European Parliament. The CJEU has already ruled in favor of the extradition to Spain, but the arrest warrants should not infringe the fundamental rights of the person.

Sources: Euronews, Associated Press, Radio France Internationale, Catalan News