Spain lifts Puigdemont arrest warrant after 9 years of exile
A Spanish Supreme Court judge has lifted the arrest warrant for Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont, allowing him to return to Spain without fear of detention after nearly nine years in exile in Belgium. Puigdemont fled Spain in 2017 after leading a failed attempt to break Catalonia away from Spain. The decision comes ahead of a general election in November.
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- ✓ Carles Puigdemont fled Spain for Belgium in 2017 after leading a failed attempt to break Catalonia away from Spain.
- ✓ The decision to lift the arrest warrant comes ahead of a general election in November.
- ✓ Puigdemont has been in exile in Belgium for nearly nine years.
What changed
The Spanish Supreme Court lifted the national arrest warrant against Carles Puigdemont.
Live updates
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Spain lifts arrest warrant for Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont
A Spanish Supreme Court judge has lifted the arrest warrant for Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont, allowing him to return to Spain without fear of detention after nearly nine years in exile in Belgium. Puigdemont fled Spain in 2017 after leading a failed attempt to break Catalonia away from Spain. The decision comes ahead of a general election in November.
Why it matters
The move clears a significant hurdle for Puigdemont's return to Spain and potentially impacts the upcoming general election. Puigdemont's exile and the arrest warrant have been a contentious issue in Spanish politics for years. Catalonia's independence movement has been a major factor in Spanish politics since 2017.
What is confirmed
- Carles Puigdemont fled Spain for Belgium in 2017 after leading a failed attempt to break Catalonia away from Spain.
- The decision to lift the arrest warrant comes ahead of a general election in November.
- Puigdemont has been in exile in Belgium for nearly nine years.
What to watch next
- Puigdemont's return to Spain and its impact on the general election
- The reaction of Spanish authorities and Puigdemont's supporters
- Any potential developments in the Catalan independence movement
confidence 85%Sources used for this update (16)
- Politico — Spain lifts Puigdemont arrest warrant after 9 years of exile
- The New York Times — Spain Clears Way for Separatist Leader to Return to Catalonia
- The Guardian — Exiled separatist leader is likely to return to a very different Catalonia | Carles Puigdemont
- Reuters — Catalan separatist Puigdemont set to return home after court lifts arrest warrant
- dw.com — Spain court lifts Puigdemont arrest warrant, clearing way for his return home ahead of November elections
- Al Jazeera — Catalan separatist Puigdemont to return to Spain after warrant lifted
- Euronews.com — Puigdemont welcomes Spain's amnesty but warns it is not the solution for Catalonia
- www.latimes.com — Spain lifts arrest warrant for Catalan separatist Carles Puigdemont
- www.yahoo.com — Spain Lifts Puigdemont Arrest Warrant After Nearly Nine Years In Exile
- uk.news.yahoo.com — Exiled Catalan separatist leader Puigdemont cleared to return to Spain - Yahoo News UK
- sg.news.yahoo.com — Court ruling clears key hurdle for separatist leader Puigdemont's return to Spain - Yahoo News Singapore
- today.rtl.lu — Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum hosts 'homecoming' show for Willem de Kooning - RTL Today
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