Puigdemont cleared to return to Spain without arrest

On Oct. 6, 2026, Supreme Court Judge Pablo Llarena lifted the detention order for self-exiled Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont. The decision followed the Constitutional Court upholding Dolors Bassa's appeal in the connected 'procés' case. Puigdemont fled after the 2017 independence bid ruled illegal, facing alleged embezzlement charges linked to the referendum.