The lawyer of exiled Catalan president Carles Puigdemont has this Boxing Day called on Spanish investigating judge Pablo Llarena to deactivate the European arrest warrants issued for his client and to step aside from the case because he "lacks the slightest appearance of impartiality."
These petitions are part of a 63-page submission responding to the judge's own call for parties to present opinions on last week's European Court of Justice ruling recognizing the immunity as an MEP of imprisoned pro-independence leader Oriol Junqueras. The report asserted that not only the Spanish national arrest warrant but also the European and international warrants issued against Puigdemont must now be deactivated, as they were "issued without legal basis and without the prior authorization of the European Parliament."
It also calls for the annulment of "any other precautionary measures that continue" against the exiled Catalan politician, residing in Belgium, even those decided prior to the acquisition of his status as a Member of the European Parliament, "as they are incompatible with the immunities inherent in [his] condition."
As well, the submission asks for the Spanish Supreme Court to declare that all measures to curtail or restrict the liberty or freedom of movement of the pro-independence leader are inappropriate and, finally, to dismiss the case, "since it has not transpired that the actions for which my client is sought constitute any crime."