Spain court lifts Puigdemont arrest warrant, clearing way for his return home ahead of November elections

The Spanish Supreme Court has canceled an arrest warrant for Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont, clearing the way for his return to Spain without fear of arrest after nearly a decade in exile. Puigdemont had been living in self-imposed exile in Belgium since fleeing the country in 2017 following an unsuccessful independence bid.

The court's decision removes a major legal barrier to Puigdemont's homecoming as the region approaches the November elections. The lifting of the warrant alters the political landscape surrounding the prominent separatist figure, enabling his physical presence in Spain for the upcoming electoral cycle.