Spain's Supreme Court rejects pardon for former Catalan leader Puigdemont

The Spanish Supreme Court has refused to grant amnesty to former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont. The court decided this on Monday, international news agencies reported. The ruling is noteworthy because on May 30, parliament approved a law granting amnesty to all Catalans involved in the 2017 coup attempt.

The court noted that the amnesty law did not apply to all the crimes Puigdemont was suspected of committing. While the ousted regional prime minister was pardoned for his role in the coup attempt, he is also accused of embezzling government funds. The arrest warrant for Puigdemont, who has been living in exile in Belgium since 2017, was therefore upheld.

The amnesty law was welcome news at the end of May for the 370 Catalans who took part in organising the illegal independence referendum in 2017. This includes Catalan independence party leader Gants. The law is controversial in Spain. Right-wing opposition parties believe the amnesty law undermines Spanish democracy and say Catalan separatists should be condemned.

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