Catalan battle in German court
Ex-leader Puigdemont faces weeks-long fight to avoid extradition back to Spain
Sand pain’s showdown with Catalonia’s separatist leaders yesterday moved to German courts as the region’s former President, Carles Puigdemont, embarked on what could be a weekslong effort to avoid extradition from Germany.
A court in the northern town of Neumuenster ruled that Puigdemont, who was arrested on Monday in Germany, has to remain in custody for the length of the extradition proceedings.
The court said the formal requirements to detain Puigdemont had been met by a European arrest warrant issued by Spain.
In denying him bail, the court said Puigdemont posed a flight risk, concluding that he had “a strong incentive” to try to travel to Belgium where his chances of avoiding extradition might be greater.
Schleswig Holstein state prosecutor Georg Guentge said the former Catalan leader appeared “calm and composed” during yesterday’s hearing, at times making legal arguments on his own behalf.
Guentge said Puigdemont can challenge the legal basis for Spain’s extradition request during the formal proceedings, which will now take place before the upper court in nearby Schleswig. Guentge said it isn’t clear whether a decision on the extradition request will happen this week and in the meantime Puigdemont will remain at the prison in Neumuenster.
With tensions flaring back home, Spain’s Government said Puigdemont’s arrest at a highway rest area south of the German-Danish border during an attempt to drive from Finland to Belgium shows that “nobody can infinitely mock justice”. Tens of thousands protested on Monday in Barcelona and other Catalan towns, and some demonstrators clashed with riot police.
Spanish authorities accuse Puigdemont, 55, of rebellion and misuse of public funds in organising an unauthorised referendum last year on independence for Catalonia.
European rules call for a final decision on extradition within 60 days of the suspect’s arrest, though a 30-day extension is possible.
Spain was plunged into its worst political crisis in four decades when Puigdemont’s Government flouted a court ban and held an ad-hoc referendum on independence for the northeastern region in October.
The Catalan Parliament’s subsequent declaration of independence received no international recognition and provoked a takeover of the regional Government by Spanish authorities.
Spain originally asked for Puigdemont’s extradition from Belgium after he fled there in October, but later withdrew the request until Spanish Supreme Court Judge Pablo Llarena concluded his investigation last week.
In the meantime, Puigdemont was free to make trips to Denmark, Switzerland and Finland, in an effort to gain international support for the secessionist movement.
The international arrest warrant for Puigdemont was reactivated on Friday, while he was visiting Finland. Spain has also issued five warrants for other separatists who fled the country.
Puigdemont and other Catalan separatists argue that their movement has been entirely peaceful. Separatists condemned Monday’s street violence in Catalonia that led to 100 people, including 23 police agents, being treated for minor injuries.
German Interior Ministry spokesman Johannes Dimroth said that, in “abstract terms”, Puigdemont could seek asylum in Germany because anyone can file such a request, but added that he couldn’t comment on the likelihood asylum would be granted or say whether Puigdemont had made any such request.
Puigdemont’s Belgian lawyer, Paul Bekaert, argued on VRT television that there was “flagrant abuse by Spain of the European arrest warrant for political purpose, which is totally illegal”.
However, German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said in Berlin that “Spain is a democratic state of law”. “The German Government remains convinced that this Catalonia conflict must be resolved within the Spanish legal and constitutional order,” he said, noting Berlin’s support for the “clear position” of the Spanish Government in recent months. — AP Nine of the leaders are in prison in Spain, including: Jordi Turull Third candidate for vacant Catalan presidency. Carme Forcadell Former speaker of Catalan Parliament. Marta Rovira Secretarygeneral of Republican Left party. Anna Gabriel Far-left Popular Unity candidate BELGIUM: Toni Comín, Meritxell Serret, Lluís Puig Former cabinet members. BRITAIN: Clara Ponsati Former cabinet minister.