Spain WITHDRAWS international arrest warrant for Carles Puigdemont and cabinet members
SPAIN'S Supreme Court has withdrawn an international arrest warrant for Catalonia's former leader Carles Puigdemont and four of his cabinet members.
Catalonia: Carles Puigdemont surrenders to Belgian police
The Supreme Court said the politicians had shown willingness to return to Spain to take part in Catalonia's December 21 regional election.
All five travelled to Belgium following an unilateral declaration of independence in the Catalan parliament on October 27.
The withdrawal of the arrest warrant also prevented more than one European jurisdiction overseeing the case, the court said.
The Spanish arrest warrant remains.
An arrest warrant for Carles Puigdemont and four cabinet members has been dropped
The disputed and ousted president is facing sedition, rebellion, and misuse of public funds charges in Spain.
Mr Puigdemont's lawyers have said the alleged crimes of which he and other cabinet members are accused are not punishable under Belgian law.
Madrid hopes parties in favour of unity with Spain will win the election.
Pro-independence parties see the poll as a plebiscite on a split from Spain.
It was not clear whether Mr Puigdemont would return immediately to Spain, where he is likely to be detained pending investigations that could take months.