EU Court Upholds Ruling Against Catalan Separatists Puigdemont and Comin

The European Court of Justice has upheld a decision denying Catalan separatists Carles Puigdemont and Toni Comin recognition as European Parliament members. Despite being elected in 2019, they failed to meet the requirement of pledging to respect the Spanish constitution. The ruling effectively strips them of immunity and could lead to their extradition to Spain.

The EU Court of Justice has upheld an appeal decision by Catalan separatist leaders Carles Puigdemont and Toni Comin, rejecting their bid for recognition as European Parliament members. The court confirmed their lack of status due to failure to pledge to respect the Spanish constitution in June 2019, a mandatory procedure done in person in Madrid for newly-elected MEPs.

This ruling affirms an earlier judgment by the EU's General Court, reinforcing that the President of the European Parliament could not deviate from the list of elected Members officially provided by Spanish authorities. "The General Court correctly held that the President of the European Parliament could not depart from the list of elected Members which had been officially notified to him by the Spanish authorities," the Court of Justice stated.

Puigdemont's and Comin's party Junts vows to persist in their fight for Catalonia's independence. Both leaders are in self-imposed exile and the ruling might lead to their possible extradition to Spain. In July, Spain's Supreme Court upheld arrest warrants on embezzlement charges related to the failed 2017 secession attempt.