Court backs Procés amnesty Return and legal steps

Oct 6

RTVE reports that the Constitutional Court has backed amnesty for Procés embezzlement by seven votes to five and the Supreme Court has revoked Puigdemont's arrest warrant, allowing return without arrest. Puigdemont welcomes the defeat of efforts to delay the law but will not set a return date until the Supreme Court's final pronouncement. The report distinguishes the lifted warrant from formal amnesty: after notification the Supreme Court must issue a new order, on a timetable in Llarena's hands. Sánchez says the law sought Catalan coexistence rather than a benefit for a particular politician. Junqueras welcomes prospects for Puigdemont's return and his own electoral eligibility; Muñoz alleges an investiture-for-amnesty bargain. Urtasun welcomes the ruling while criticizing Junts's housing vote; the narrator attributes a positive assessment to Illa. No completed return or final formal amnesty order is established.

RTVE's October 4 preview identified the October 6 Constitutional Court review of Jordi Turull and Dolors Bassa's appeals against refusal to apply the amnesty law to their Procés embezzlement convictions. That account described the review and possible Puigdemont return as prospective. DD India's October 6 account now says the court ruled that courts must apply the amnesty law, including embezzlement cases. It carries Sánchez's welcome of the constitutional ruling and describes the subsequent, separate Supreme Court warrant decision. The current passage does not name the reviewed appellants or establish completed return; preserve the two decisions as separate occurrences. RTVE's October 6 report now says the Constitutional Court has ruled seven to five that embezzlement must be amnestied. It distinguishes the Supreme Court's lifted Puigdemont warrant from the still-pending new formal-amnesty order after notification, with timing in Llarena's hands. Puigdemont welcomes the decision but sets no return date; Sánchez defends the law as serving coexistence, Junqueras welcomes return/eligibility prospects, Muñoz alleges an investiture bargain, Urtasun supports the ruling while criticizing Junts, and Illa's favourable assessment is reported. These positions retain attribution; no completed return or final formal-amnesty order is established.