Spain withdraws the European arrest warrant against the dismissed president of Catalonia, who fled to Belgium

Spanish justice withdrew the European arrest warrant against the dismissed Catalan president Carles Puigdemont and four members of his executive who fled to Belgium after the regional parliament unilaterally declared independence for what they are required by the courts, the Court said Tuesday. Supreme.

The judge in charge of the case indicated that before the intention of the five to return to Spain to participate in the regional elections of December 21, decided to withdraw the European order to avoid benefiting from the others charged with the crimes of rebellion, sedition and embezzlement that remained in Spain, and maintained the order to stop them if they return to the country.

The unexpected decision was announced just a day after Puigdemont and the other four politicians came to a hearing of his extradition process to Spain. The judge had to decide on his future on December 14.

The magistrate Pablo Llarena communicated his decision to the Belgian authorities to annul the procedure opened in the European country since if the Belgian justice rejects some of the motives of the order it could reduce the charges for which they are required and an inequality would be generated regarding the leaders in Spain who will be investigated for all crimes .

The announcement also coincides with the launch of the electoral campaign for the regional elections of December 21, convened last October by the president of the Spanish government, Mariano Rajoy, after dismissing the regional executive and taking control of the region.

Puigdemont leads the candidacy of the Junts per Catalunya party in the regional elections, in which several of its former councilors participate.