News

Germany sees justice done

The Schleswig-Holstein court liberates Carles Puigdemont and rules out charges of rebellion as it did not evidence any act of violence in Catalonia

“See you tomorrow.” Carles Puigdemont tweeted yesterday following the decision of the three judges of the Schleswig-Holstein court in northern Germany to grant liberty on bail to the 130th president of the Generalitat and remove from the extradition request the charge of rebellion. Europe sees no violence. The Spanish version has not convinced the German courts nor the Belgian courts which also freed Toni Comín, Meritxell Serret and Lluís Puig without bail. Scotland did the same with Clara Ponsatí. Toni Comín stressed: “In all four cases, the decision has been the same.”

The judges say they can not grant extradition for rebellion, as “such actions would not be punishable under current legislation in Germany.” However, German justice must now consider whether Puigdemont will be extradited for the crime of embezzlement, with lesser penalties. While the courts now take that under consideration, Puigdemont must remain in Germany and will need to find accommodation there.

Puigdemont is expected to be freed this morning with the ANC and Òmnium having already transferred the €75,000 bail set by the court. “I had always said that I was completely confident in the German justice system,” tweeted Puigdemont’s attorney in Barcelona, Jaime Alonso Cuevillas.

The reaction of the Spanish Government came from the Minister of Justice Rafael Catalá who said that it respected the court’s decision. Whether this will influence the charges against those already imprisoned here is yet to be seen.

The Speaker of the House Roger Torrent also welcomed the news.

Sign in. Sign in if you are already a verified reader. I want to become verified reader. To leave comments on the website you must be a verified reader.
Note: To leave comments on the website you must be a verified reader and accept the conditions of use.