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Catalan separatist leader Carlos Puigdemont An EU court has lost a battle to restore his parliamentary immunity, in a decision that could stoke tensions again in Spain ahead of a general election.
He stripped the European Parliament of his immunity in 2021, paving the way for him to be handed over to Spain as he is sought for his role in a failed referendum on independence when he was the regional president of Catalonia.
The ruling by the General Court of the European Union in Luxembourg is likely to give more ammunition to the opposition to attack the prime minister. Pedro Sanchez ahead of snap elections on July 23. Puigdemont said on Twitter that he will file an appeal to the European Court of Justicethe highest court in the 27-nation bloc.
The leader of the People’s Party, Alberto Núñez Figo, who leads the polls, accused Sanchez of siding with the Catalan parties behind the secession attempt that nearly tore the country apart.
In recent years, Sanchez has had to rely on the Catalan separatist party Escera Republicana as well as pro-independence Basque groups to pass key legislation in a deeply divided parliament.
Sanchez said his strategy of negotiating with the separatists helped ease tensions in Catalonia, which came to a head with violent protests when the People’s Party was in power. In 2021, Sanchez pardoned nine Catalan separatist leaders, and a year later abolished the offense of sedition, which could reduce the penalties Puigdemont faces if he is extradited to Spain.
He stripped the European Parliament of his immunity in 2021, paving the way for him to be handed over to Spain as he is sought for his role in a failed referendum on independence when he was the regional president of Catalonia.
The ruling by the General Court of the European Union in Luxembourg is likely to give more ammunition to the opposition to attack the prime minister. Pedro Sanchez ahead of snap elections on July 23. Puigdemont said on Twitter that he will file an appeal to the European Court of Justicethe highest court in the 27-nation bloc.
The leader of the People’s Party, Alberto Núñez Figo, who leads the polls, accused Sanchez of siding with the Catalan parties behind the secession attempt that nearly tore the country apart.
In recent years, Sanchez has had to rely on the Catalan separatist party Escera Republicana as well as pro-independence Basque groups to pass key legislation in a deeply divided parliament.
Sanchez said his strategy of negotiating with the separatists helped ease tensions in Catalonia, which came to a head with violent protests when the People’s Party was in power. In 2021, Sanchez pardoned nine Catalan separatist leaders, and a year later abolished the offense of sedition, which could reduce the penalties Puigdemont faces if he is extradited to Spain.
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