University professor faces arrest warrant

st andrews: Figure had served Catalan government

A European arrest warrant has been issued for a St Andrews professor and former Catalan minister who fled Spain.

Clara Ponsati was education minister in the regional government when it declared independence from Spain in October following an unsanctioned referendum.

Catalonia’s former leader, Carles Puigdemont, who is facing sedition and rebellion allegations, was detained yesterday by German police acting on the warrant.

Professor Ponsati returned to the university’s school of economics and finance earlier this month after fleeing Spain to avoid arrest.

Tricia Marwick, Holyrood’s former presiding officer, said she is alarmed by the latest developments and criticised the EU for its response to the crisis.

“I think it’s extremely worrying that Spain has reactivated the arrest warrants for Clara Ponsati and other ministers,” the ex-fife MSP told The Courier.

“There has been an election which had been won and it seems to me this is about democracy, it’s about fundamental civil and political rights.

“That’s what most of us believe the EU should be protecting and it’s disappointing to say the least that they are not.”

The warrants for Mr Puigdemont and other Catalan leaders were rescinded in December by the Spanish courts on the understanding they were looking to return.

A spokesman for St Andrews University said: “We are aware that a warrant has been issued.

“We are staying in close touch with Clara and we will continue to monitor developments very carefully,” they added.

A Spanish Supreme Court judge charged 13 Catalan separatist politicians with rebellion on Friday for their attempts to make the region independent of Spain, dealing a heavy blow to the secessionist movement.

The judge ordered international arrest warrants for the six Catalan officials who are fugitives, including Mr Puigdemont and Professor Ponsati.

Professor Clara Ponsati.