The immunity of the Catalan leader lifted
The European Union (EU) court has ruled that the decision to lift the immunity of former Catalan president and Member of the European Parliament (EP) Carles Puigdemont continues.
The General Court of the Court of Justice of the EU rejected the objection of Puigdemont, former president of the Spanish region of Catalonia, against the decision to lift his immunity in the European Parliament. “The European Parliament cannot make decisions in defense of immunity that have binding legal effects for the Spanish judicial authorities,” the court said in a statement.
Puigdemont announced that he will appeal the court’s decision to the Court of Justice of the EU in Luxembourg. When ruling on the court’s decision, Puigdemont said that “nothing has ended” and assured that he will defend his fundamental rights until the end.
Puigdemont pointed out that he will continue to work for freedom, that he has 2 months to appeal, and that the court must decide in the next 6 months.
The next elections to the European Parliament will be held in June 2024.
Following the 2017 independence referendum in the Spanish region of Catalonia, Spanish authorities launched an investigation against Puigdemont and several other Catalan politicians. Puigdemont and other Catalan separatist deputies Toni Comin and Clara Ponsati had traveled from Spain to Belgium. Puigdemont was elected deputy in the 2019 European Parliament elections.
PRISON OF UP TO 8 YEARS ON THE AGENDA
The Spanish Supreme Court, which is requesting Puigdemont’s extradition, accuses the Catalan politician of “obstructing the application of the law”, “disobedience to State institutions” and “abuse of public property” for the illegal independence referendum held in Catalonia on October 1, 2017.
Puigdemont’s immunity, which Spain wanted to prosecute, was lifted in March 2021 by a vote in the EP. It is claimed that Puigdemont could face up to 8 years in prison if he is extradited to Spain.
The former Catalan leader has lived in Belgium since October 2017. Spain is expected to request Puigdemont’s extradition from Belgium again. (AA)
Source: Sozcu
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
