“Puigdemont could return today if he wanted to,” said Félix Bolaños, Spain’s Minister of the Presidency and Justice, during an interview with the Ser radio network on Tuesday morning. The remark follows the Constitutional Court’s decision to endorse the amnesty law covering leaders of the Procés, opening the door for exiled politicians to re-enter Spain.
Supreme Court Lifts Arrest Warrant for Exiled Leader
Supreme Court magistrate Pablo Llarena has already lifted the active arrest warrant for former president Carles Puigdemont, who spent nine years in exile. Bolaños noted that the judicial clearance means the choice to travel back now rests entirely with the politician.
Defense Expects Formal Case Closure Before Travel
Despite the government’s stance, Puigdemont did not specify an exact timeline for his return during a public appearance on Tuesday. A legal representative for the former president told 3Cat that the defense team is waiting for the Supreme Court to formally archive the case before any travel arrangements are made. The lawyer stated that no specific date has been set while they await the final closure from the high court.
Constitutional Court Orders Urgent Embezzlement Application
The Constitutional Court officially communicated its ruling to the Supreme Court, ordering high court judges to apply the amnesty urgently to embezzlement charges. The legal process requires magistrate Llarena to issue a summary conclusion and send it to the Supreme Court’s penal chamber, presided over by Andrés Martínez-Arrieta, alongside judge Manuel Marchena. That panel will hear arguments from defense counsel, prosecutors, the State Attorney’s Office, and Vox before dismissing the investigation for Puigdemont and former ministers Toni Comín and Lluís Puig.
Supreme Court Judges Weigh Next Steps for Convicted Officials
Manuel Marchena, the judge who presided over the Procés trial, must draft the resolution to apply the amnesty to Dolors Bassa and decide whether to propose extending it to the rest of the convicts or wait for individual constitutional appeal rulings for Jordi Turull, Oriol Junqueras, and Raül Romeva to arrive. First, he will grant a five-day period for the parties to make statements. Solvent Supreme Court sources consulted by ARA indicate that the disqualification penalty, at least for the former Minister of Labour, Social Affairs and Families, estarà aixecada segur
before Monday, October 26, which is the deadline for submitting candidacies for the November 29 election.
Minister Cites Absolute Political Normalization in Catalonia
Minister Bolaños defended the administration’s legislative agenda, arguing that the contested amnesty policy successfully fostered normalization in the region. Citing data from the Center for Sociological Research, Bolaños claimed that only 0.2 percent of the population currently views Catalan independence as a problem. He stated that the Spanish government under Pedro Sánchez has effectively resolved the political crisis.
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