Constitutional Court Keeps Puigdemont Arrest Warrant in Force

Overview

• The Constitutional Court denied precautionary relief sought by Carles Puigdemont, Antoni Comín, and Lluís Puig, leaving their national arrest orders active.
• Judges said halting the warrants would amount to an anticipatory decision on the amparo appeals and intrude on the Supreme Court’s ongoing jurisdiction.
• Reports differ on the vote count, with several outlets calling the decision unanimous and others noting a dissent from magistrate Ramón Sáez.
• The court signaled it will address the substance of the appeals after considering rulings expected from the EU Court of Justice on related amnesty questions.
• The warrants stem from the ‘procés’ case led by Supreme Court judge Pablo Llarena, with the Supreme Court excluding amnesty for malversación on grounds of personal enrichment.