Briefly arrested in Sardinia and free to move, the ex-president of Catalonia and MEP Carles Puigdemont announced on Saturday that he would return to Belgium from Italy on Monday but would return to Italy in early October for a hearing on his extradition demanded by the Spain.

"I plan to return to Brussels on Monday because there is a meeting of the Committee on Foreign Trade (of the European Parliament), of which I am a member," he said during a press conference in Alghero, a Sardinian city of Catalan culture.

“On October 4, I was summoned to the court of Sassari (northern Sardinia).

I will indeed be present, because each time I have been summoned by the courts, I have introduced myself, ”he assured.

Travel enthusiast

Carlos Puigdemont, 58, MEP since 2019, was arrested Thursday evening on his arrival at Alghero airport, where he was to participate in the Catalan Adifolk festival.

He was released on Friday evening after pledging to be present on October 4 for a hearing on his extradition to Spain.

Carles Puigdemont also made it known that he would continue to travel in Europe, defying Madrid and the European arrest warrant which has earned him regular legal setbacks on the continent for almost two years.

Spanish justice accuses him of "sedition" and "embezzlement of public funds".

"We will never give up and I will continue to travel in Europe," assured Carlos Puigdemont.

Immunity in suspense

His arrest and then his release 24 hours later by the Italian justice "prove", according to him, the fight of the Catalan separatists for "freedom, democracy, the defense of the right to self-determination, freedom of expression, freedom of movement ".

According to his Italian lawyer Agostinangelo Marras, the decision on his extradition could take "weeks".

In March 2018, he was arrested for the first time at the request of Spain, in Germany this time.

But he was released a few days later.

The independentist enjoyed parliamentary immunity for a time, but the European Parliament lifted it on March 9 by a large majority.

A measure confirmed on July 30 by the General Court of the European Union.

However, the European Parliament's decision is the subject of an appeal, the final judgment on the merits of which by the EU courts must be rendered "at a later date".

His legal advisers therefore consider that Parliament's decision is “suspended”, as is the application of the arrest warrant, and that their client must still benefit from his immunity.

World

Perpignan: A hundred people demonstrate in support of Carles Puigdemont

World

Catalonia: Carles Puigdemont, the puzzle of Madrid and Barcelona

  • World