Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Carles Puigdemont: German prosecutors are seeking extradition of Catalan separatist leader

Former Catalan president could face trial in Spain

Jon Stone
Europe Correspondent
Tuesday 03 April 2018 07:01 EDT
Comments
Demonstrators hold placards showing Puigdemont, near the prison where he is being held in Neumuenster, Germany
Demonstrators hold placards showing Puigdemont, near the prison where he is being held in Neumuenster, Germany (EPA)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

German prosecutors are seeking to extradite former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont to Spain, after the pro-independence politician was detained as he attempted to travel through German territory.

Mr Puigdemont has been living in self-imposed exile to avoid charges of rebellion, sedition, and the misuse of public funds – levelled by Madrid in relation to his part in last year’s Catalan independence referendum.

He was trying to travel from Belgium, where he had been living, to Finland, when he was arrested on 25 March by German authorities.

The former president would probably face trial if he returned to Spain.

German prosecutors in the region of Schleswig-Holstein said they had asked their local court to formally put Mr Puigdemont in pre-extradition custody. They said they had conducted an “intensive examination” of the European arrest warrant issued by Spain’s supreme court on 23 March for the politician’s arrest.

“The accusation of rebellion contains at its core the allegation of carrying out an unconstitutional referendum despite expectations of violent disturbances,” the prosecutors said.

It is expected that the Schleswig-Holstein court will take several days to decide on whether to honour the prosecutors’ request.

Mr Puigdemont’s lawyers said the German government should intervene on his behalf, citing a “political dimension” to his arrest and charges.

Following Catalonia’s attempt to declare independence, the Spanish central government suspended home rule in the region and called new local elections.

Though the disparate pro-independence parties together won another slim majority in the Catalan regional parliament and again agreed that Mr Puigdemont should be their first candidate for president, he was unable to be sworn in because he could not physically attend the body’s sitting. Attempts to have him sworn in as president remotely or by proxy failed.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in