Catalan trio cleared to run in Euro elections

Former Catalan regional president Carles Puigde - mont and two other separatists who fled abroad to escape arrest must be allowed to run in this month’s European Parliament elections, Spanish courts have ruled.

The judgments overruled a decision by Spain’ s Electoral Board, which had said it would prohibit the three from running in the 26 May race to for the parliament in Strasbourg.

Three separate courts in Madrid ruled in favour of appeals filed by Mr Puigdemont and his two associates, who argued their democratic rights were being violated.

All three separatists fled Spain to avoid arrest for participating in Catalonia’s failed secession attempt in 2017. Mr Puigdemont and Toni Comin reside in Belgium, and Clara Ponsati in the Scotland.