catalannews.com // President brands lawsuit against pro-independence leaders a ‘farce’

29.7.18

President brands lawsuit against pro-independence leaders a ‘farce’: Several hundred supporters showed up to Waterloo in the afternoon, for which Puigdemont expressed his gratitude highlighting the challenge of travelling such a distance whilst there are “strikes and holidays.”

“Today is a symbolically important day,” he said, referring to his return to Belgium. “But it is also charged with opposing feelings,” he added, recalling those who remain locked up. Until recently, the former head of the Catalan government, with a Spanish-issued European arrest warrant hanging over his head, had been unable to leave Germany while a decision on his extradition case was being made.

The German court in Schleswig-Holstein decided to accept the extradition request against him, but only for misuse of funds and not rebellion, which can carry up to 30 years in prison. Spain’s Supreme Court subsequently withdrew the European arrest warrant against Puigdemont and all other pro-independence leaders abroad. Those in jail for their roles in Catalonia’s push for independence last year, however, remain under lock and key. The Spanish court has denied various requests for their freedom.