Former Catalan Prime Minister Carles Puigdemont was celebrated by supporters in the city of Alghero on Saturday after his release in Sardinia.

At a meeting in the Catalan city in the west of the island, Puigdemont was satisfied that he would be able to take part in a cultural festival there as planned.

"I'm used to being chased by Spain," said the 58-year-old.

"But it always ends the same way: I am free - and I will keep fighting."

After arriving on the Italian Mediterranean island on Thursday, Puigdemont was initially arrested on the basis of a European arrest warrant, but was able to leave the prison on Friday evening.

Contrary to first reports, he was released unconditionally.

The court of appeal in the city of Sassari did not oblige the politician to remain on the island or in Italy until further action was clarified.

Puigdemont is also allowed to leave the country.

The judge declared Puigdemont's arrest to be legal

The next court date was set for October 4th.

Negotiations will then take place on how to proceed with the European arrest warrant issued by Spain.

Judge Plinia Azzena had decided at a first hearing on Friday that the arrest of Puigdemont on Thursday evening at Alghero airport was legal.

The politician was the leading figure in the proclamation of Catalonia's independence from Spain in 2017. After his dismissal by the central government in Madrid, he went into exile in Belgium in October 2017 to avoid prosecution in Spain.

In 2018 he was arrested in Germany at the request of Spain.

A few days later, however, he was released again because the German judiciary did not recognize the accusation of "rebellion" raised by Spain as a reason for extradition.

In 2019 he won a mandate in the EU Parliament, but his immunity was later lifted.

The Spanish judiciary sentenced Puigdemont's fellow campaigners who remained in Catalonia to several years in prison in 2019, but were pardoned by the government of socialist Pedro Sánchez at the end of June this year.

Puigdemont was not one of them.

The Spanish judiciary wants to continue trying him for rebellion and misappropriation of public funds.