United KingdomSpain's Supreme Court has ruled that Carles Puigdemont, the former president of Catalonia, can return to Spain without fear of arrest, nearly a decade after fleeing into self-imposed exile following a failed independence bid. The court lifted an arrest warrant related to the 2017 referendum organized by his regional government, which defied Madrid's authority. Direct rule was imposed on Catalonia afterward, and Puigdemont sought refuge in Belgium, making occasional appearances in Spain that prompted police responses. While Catalan independence remains a minor political issue today, the ruling ends a prolonged legal dispute involving the Spanish judiciary and Puigdemont. Although Spain's socialist government proposed an amnesty for many Catalan independence figures in 2024, the Supreme Court excluded Puigdemont and others due to charges of financial misconduct tied to the referendum. This exclusion was later overturned by the Constitutional Court, allowing Puigdemont and his allies to return. Puigdemont continues to campaign internationally for Catalan independence while criticizing Spain's institutions.
Bias read (Center): The article presents the legal developments regarding Puigdemont's return to Spain in a balanced manner, citing the rulings of multiple courts and noting both the amnesty proposal and its exceptions. It does not exhibit overtly biased language or selective sourcing, maintaining neutrality in its ret
