The Spanish Constitutional Court ruled on Tuesday that an amnesty law for Catalan separatists must be applied, including in embezzlement cases. This decision removes a major legal hurdle for former regional president Carles Puigdemont, allowing him to return home without fear of arrest.
Puigdemont has lived in self-imposed exile in Belgium since 2017, following a failed and illegal push for independence and a unilateral declaration of independence. He fled the country to avoid being jailed, while nine of his colleagues were imprisoned on sentences of up to 13 years, although all were released within three years.
The Spanish Supreme Court has canceled the arrest warrant for the politician, permitting his return for the first time in nearly a decade. While Puigdemont previously made a brief public appearance in Barcelona in 2024 and left without being detained, the court's ruling officially clears his return as Spain prepares for an early election.