A Spanish Supreme Court judge has withdrawn an international arrest warrant for ex-Catalonia leader Carles Puigdemont and four other ministers. They fled to Belgium a month ago after declaring unilateral independence in a referendum ruled illegal by the Spanish Supreme Court.
The court explained that Mr Puigdemont has expressed willingness to return Spain alongside four other members of his cabinet who fled to Belgium after the independence referendum. However, Spanish arrest warrants remains.
A judge said the ministers still faced possible charges for sedition and rebellion against the state, but had showed a willingness to return to Spain before regional elections on 21 December. On Monday six other ministers were released from prison near Madrid on bail. Two others, including the former Catalan vice-president, remain in custody.
The sacked vice president Oriol Junqueras and three other separatist leaders will remain in prison during a probe into their role in the bid for independence. Judge Llarena said Mr Junqueras would likely repeat his alleged offences of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds if he was released.
Campaigning in the regional elections called by the Spanish government began at midnight on Tuesday, with the elections due to take place on 21 December.
