Carles Puigdemont left Sassari prison, in Sardinia, on Friday, where he had been arrested the day before. According to his lawyer, the former Catalan president may leave Italy pending the next hearing scheduled for October 4. Italian justice will then have to rule on his extradition to Spain. Exiled in Belgium since the secession attempt in 2017, Carles Puigdemont is being sued in Spain for sedition and embezzlement of public funds.
The former Catalan president traveled to Sardinia as a parliamentarian, according to his lawyers who hope to win his case. The independence leader benefited fromimmunity, which was lifted by the European Parliament. But for his defenders, Carles Puigdemont is still protected by his status as a MEP.
Towards new tensions between Madrid and Barcelona?
Meanwhile in Barcelona, the separatists showed their support for him in front of the Italian consulate.
“Puigdemont is the president of Catalonia chosen in 2017. This means that he is our legitimate president. What we want to do is discuss with the Spanish government face-to-face to resolve this conflict without going to court.“, says Jordi Cuixart.
This episode comes just a week after the resumption of negotiations between the government and the Catalan regional authorities. All fear new distances between Madrid and Barcelona.
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