The tension between the key institutions of the Spanish state following the arrest in Sardinia and subsequent release of Catalan president in exile Carles Puigdemont is leading to open conflict. If yesterday Supreme Court judge Pablo Llarena had again asked Italian justice to extradite Puigdemont next Monday and had corrected the state solicitors' office for its denial that the European Arrest Warrant (EAW) is active, today it was the Spanish justice minister, Pilar Llop, who has come out to reply publicly to Llarena and defend the state solicitors, who are legal representatives of the government.
Llop defended that the state solicitors acted "meticulously" and with absolute "respect" for the doctrine expressed by the EU General Court (EGC) on the Puigdemont case. Interviewed by Canal Sur Radio, the minister was asked about the fact that the Supreme Court investigating judge has sent a letter to the Court of Appeal of Sassari assuring that the EAW against Puigdemont is in force and has not been suspended through the raising of a preliminary question, contrary to what the state solicitors told the European court.
Submissions presented
Llop wanted to make it clear, first of all, her "absolute respect" for the judicial procedure of both the Spanish and Italian judicial authorities, but explained that what the state solicitors stated in their submissions on the matter "reproduced the repeated doctrine of the EU Court of Justice (CJEU), which says that when there is a preliminary question the procedure should be paralyzed."
The minister stressed that the state solicitors had acted with "absolute meticulousness and respect for the doctrine of the CJEU", and now it was necessary to wait and see what the Italian courts decide on the situation of the Catalan president in exile, and on the current status of both his immunity as an MEP and the European Arrest Warrant.
The opinion of the Italian judge
With regard to the decisions of judge Llarena, Llop indicated that the judge, within his investigation, must take all the measures that he considers to be "necessary and relevant for the successful completion of the procedure". "He has ruled and informed the Italian judge, who must now also give an opinion," he said.
Llop stressed the Spanish government's "absolute respect" for what the courts decide and that the state solicitors' office has responded "meticulously" and with complete "respect" for the doctrine set by the EU court.