Catalan separatist leader Puigdemont to return home after warrant lifted

Spain’s Constitutional Court ruled an amnesty law for Catalan separatists applied to the politician.Published On 6 Oct 20266 Oct 2026Self-exiled Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont could be set to return to Spain after the country’s Constitutional Court ruled that an amnesty law for Catalan separatists applies to embezzlement charges against Puigdemont.A Supreme Court judge then lifted a warrant for Puigdemont’s arrest on Tuesday, clearing the way for his return without fear of arrest.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Catalonia’s former leader denounces Madrid’s ‘threats’list 2 of 3German prosecutors request Puigdemont’s extradition to Spainlist 3 of 3Spain withdraws request for Puigdemont’s extraditionend of listPuigdemont, then president of Catalonia, fled to Belgium in 2017 after holding an independence referendum for his self-governing region to break away from Spain. Madrid said the vote was illegal.Catalonia unilaterally declared independence from Spain that year after the referendum, with 90 percent of voters backing independence.He has since avoided several extradition attempts by Spain to face trial over the vote, while many of his confidants and suppor...