The former president of the Generalitat Carles Puigdemont found himself in a position to win the legal battle active with the Supreme Court since 2017, when he fled hidden in a car. Spain to avoid arrest after unilaterally proclaiming the freedom of Catalonia.
Knowing that the wind is blowing in his favor, because the key to governing the country is in his hands, the refugee believes that, although the teacher of the Supreme Court process, Pablo Llarena, once again released the a European order against him, “No country in Europe will stop it.” This was stated by sources close to Puigdemont consulted by THE WORLD.
Currently, the judge keeps the national arrest warrant against the former Catalan president active, so Puigdemont has not returned to Catalonia for the past six years. After the dismissal of sedition, the former president is awaiting trial for the crimes of sedition and aggravated embezzlement of public funds due to 1-O.
On Tuesday, Judge Llarena issued an order granting Puigdemont’s defense, conducted by the lawyer, a period of 10 days. Gonzalo Boye to justify whether he appealed the decision of General Court of the European Union (TGUE) to revoke his immunity. In addition, the instructor asked to inform him if he asked the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) to suspend the said judgment while his appeal is being processed.
There is no legal deadline
Legal sources explained that the former president has no legal deadline to present precautionary measures against the judgment that approved the decision of European Parliament to give the request to the Supreme Court; key step to pursue him as a criminal.
However, Puigdemont’s times are not the same as those of the Supreme Court. Judge Llarena decided in July not to issue a new European order against the fugitive – contrary to what prosecutors had requested in the process – while waiting to know if the former president would appeal to the CJEU. After issuing and withdrawing European arrest warrants against the fugitive on different occasions, the magistrate chose to act cautiously before issuing another EAW.
Although the latest judicial decisions in Europe have been failures for Puigdemont – first, the resolution of the European Parliament to accept the filing of the petition against him and, subsequently, the judgment of the European Justice approving this decision -, of the Supreme Court are very rude now that the countries want Belgium or Germany’s associated with Spain in recent years when they had to agree to the surrender of the former president of the Generalitat.
The judge decided to move now – once the deadline to appeal the European decision has expired – after it emerged that Puigdemont did not request precautionary measures from the CJEU. If the former president does not respond to the judge’s request in a timely manner or if he finally decides not to present the precautionary measures – a very unlikely scenario -, Judge Pablo Llarena is determined to issue of a new European order against Puigdemont, legal sources said.
Peace to the escaped
Despite this, those surrounding the former president expressed complete peace. The escapee knows that he is winning the battle of the political narrative. Pedro Sánchez needs Junts’ votes for his investiture and Puigdemont is demanding an open political amnesty, erasing crimes in the process. The acting president of the Government suggested that he is ready to give it: “I will be persistent in the normalization policy of Catalonia,” said the also leader of the PSOE last week in NY.
In addition, the visit of the second vice president of the acting Government, Yolanda Díaz, to Brussels on September 4 was a turning point. The former president of the Generalitat’s entourage was happy after the meeting with the vice president, privately admitting that the meeting benefited them in the process.
On the other hand, Díaz’s visit surprised the High Court. The legal sources consulted were very critical of the fact that a member of the Spanish Government agreed to meet a fugitive from the Spanish Justice and “legitimized” him without hiding.
On the other hand, the Supreme Court has serious doubts that amnesty in exchange for votes will be constitutional. However, the final word will fall to the Constitutional Court in charge Cándido Conde-Pumpido despite the fact that the Second Chamber of the TS may be paralyzed, a priori, the implementation of the amnesty.
