The Italian Justice system will not decide now whether to hand over Carles Puigdemont. The judges of the Sassari court of appeal have decided to suspend the extradition process of the Catalan former leader.
The suspension is until the European Justice resolves the preliminary ruling raised by Pablo Llarena. According to sources in his defense, the Italian judges have suspended the process until they have an answer. In the meantime, Puigdemont is free.
Spanish judge has different take to Italian ruling
The former president of the Generalitat de Catalunya went to Sardinia this morning after his arrest and subsequent release more than a week ago. Judge Pablo Llarena had insisted on the opposite of what his Italian counterparts decided today. In other words, that the order and the extradition process were still alive even though there was a pending preliminary ruling. Even this Monday, Llarena reminded the Sassari court that MEPs Clara Ponsatí and Toni Comín were still being sought.
The decision therefore puts a new brake on the international aspect of the judicial case. After the failed attempts by Germany and Belgium, Supreme Court judge Pablo Llarena will have to wait to find out whether or not Italy delivers Carles Puigdemont and on what terms.
The magistrate presented a preliminary ruling after Belgium refused to hand over Lluís Puig, another of the fugitives. It is this preliminary ruling which now paralyses the Puigdemont process.
Puigdemont will follow process from Sardinia
The ex ‘president’ of Catalonia announced the decision of the Sardinian judges on Twitter. He also announced he will follow the plenary session of the European Parliament telematically from Sardinia.
Judge Llarena, instructor of the judicial case against Puigdemont and the others, has also requested the Italian courts to process the arrest warrants of Toni Comín and Clara Ponsatí. They are part of the delegation of support to Puigdemont in Sardinia. At the moment, they have only been identified by the Police without any arrest having taken place.
