Puigdemont will have to remain in custody

Spain’s showdown with the leaders of Catalonia’s independence movement has transferred to German courts as the region’s former president, Carles Puigdemont, embarked on what could be a weeks-long effort to avoid extradition from Germany.

A court in the northern town of Neumuenster ruled last night that Puigdemont, who was arrested on Sunday in Germany, would have 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.

Guentge said Puigdemont 0 Carles Puigdemont was arrested on Sunday in Germany could 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 was not clear whether a decision on the extradition request would happen this week and, in the meantime, Puigdemont will remain at the prison in Neumuenster. Spain’s government said Puigdemont’s arrest showed that “nobody can infinitely mock justice”.

Tens of thousands protested late on Sunday in Barcelona and other Catalan towns following the arrest. At least 89 people were injured in clashes with police and four arrests were made.