Catalonia’s former regional president Puigdemont can now compete in the European elections. A court in Madrid overturned a preliminary decision of the Spanish electoral authority.
Carles Puigdemont, who has lived in exile in Brussels for 18 months, has achieved a legal success in the Madrid Administrative Court: the Catalan separatist leader is now allowed to compete in the European elections. The responsible judge overturned a previous decision of the Spanish electoral authority. This had initially granted an application by the conservative PP and the liberal party Ciudadanos and Puigdemont prohibited a candidacy.
Spain’s Supreme Court had already stated on Sunday in an urgent procedure that there was no reason for the Catalan politician to be excluded from the European elections at the end of May. Despite his escape from Spain, he was not allowed to be denied the basic right to vote. This also applies to two other Catalan separatists who also live in exile.
Puigdemont hopes for immunity as a member of the European Parliament
Now the 56-year-old will start as the top candidate of the separatist coalition „JuntsxCat / LLiures per Europa“ („Common Catalonia / Free for Europe“). In the case of a victory, Puigdemont plans to return to Catalonia: as an MEP, he says he would enjoy parliamentary immunity throughout the EU – and thus also in Spain. His two colleagues want to do the same.
Against Puigdemont and several of his fellow warriors is a warrant issued by the Spanish judiciary. Among other things, they are accused of rebellion.
