It's obvious that the Spanish state is seriously worried about the legal blow it could suffer at the hands of the Belgian justice system and the European court sitting in Luxembourg. The latest braying from the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, has to be interpreted in this sense. His disdain for the Belgian courts is inappropriate for someone on the Commission or who was, until four days ago, a minister of a country which takes itself seriously.
Clearly, Borrell is trying to divert attention and start treating the wound before it's been made. The Belgian courts have this Monday brushed off Spain's urgency over the extradition warrants and accepted the petition from Puigdemont and Comín's lawyers to postpone the start of hearings waiting for a resolution on their immunity, as well as that of Junqueras, so the first two can take their seats as MEPs. It's something that's got the deep state nervous and which Spain has done everything possible to try to avoid or, at least, to determine its result. The latest kick from Borrell, comparing president Carles Puigdemont with ETA's Natividad Jáuregui, a member of the Bizkaia commando, who wasn't extradited by Belgium, is an unacceptable insult, even in the mouth of a person who has got us used to them belittling all their enemies.
Puigdemont, like the rest of the political prisoners and the members of the Catalan government in exile, is an honourable person. All the European Arrest Warrants presented by judge Pablo Llarena have failed so far and the Supreme Court judge has had to withdraw them given the evidence of setbacks. The Supreme Court has even put it in writing in its sentence that there was no coup d'état in not accepting the charge of rebellion. How can Borrell then outline a similarity with the ETA member? It's completely immoral and leaves a lot to be desired. You can be opposed to the Catalan independence process and be very critical of it. Of course you can. But using a European office to denigrate the Belgian justice system and to try to pressure different countries and the Luxembourg court by comparing the case of Puigdemont with that of Natividad Jáuregui causes enormous unease and lays bear that even the most basic courtesies have already completely vanished.
It's necessary to be very prudent, but in the legal matter everything indicates that Spain is doing battle outside its borders and that its future is growing more complicated by leaps and bounds. Those who had counted their chickens before they'd hatched could find themselves without chickens and without eggs. Something that Borrell is a great specialist at.