(UTV|COLOMBO) – The pro-independence former leader of Catalonia, Carles Puigdemont, can run for election to the European Parliament this month, a Madrid court has ruled.
The ruling also applies to two other separatist Catalan politicians – Toni Comín and Clara Ponsatí.
All three fled Spain in 2017, when Madrid moved to thwart Catalonia’s independence bid and prosecuted them.
Ms Ponsatí is in Scotland; the others are in Belgium. Spain accuses them of “rebellion” and abuse of public funds.
Last month Spain’s central election commission, the JEC, had barred the three from appearing on the ballot, arguing that they were not residing in Spain.
The JEC decision followed a complaint from two Spanish parties opposed to Catalan independence: the conservative Popular Party (PP) and pro-business Ciudadanos.
However, the JEC also admitted that the charge of “rebellion” was not listed in the electoral law among possible reasons for barring a candidate from the European elections.
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