They have managed to get Puigdemont arrested in Germany.
In the process we learn quite a lot about why they rescinded the arrest warrant in the first place and also the way they work and how the EU works...
Puigdemont was speaking to the Finnish parliament when Spain reactivated the warrant. Then sent it to the Finn's.
Now we come to the really funny parts. Clearly the Finn's told the Spanish government to go away and translate the document from Spanish to either Finnish or an EU recognised language. Where the Spanish government translated it.... Into English. Which was probably a good move for them.
Being fairly smart about it, Puigdemont was then put in a car and they drove back towards Belgium. Now this is a good move as Schengen is open borders and the borders are not being watched, so long as there is a land border and no tolls, you can just drive and only the numberplate recognition camera's are going to know you are there.
However someone was watching. The car was stopped, just over the German border and Puigdemont was taken into custody.
We then get into the most arcane parts of the whole EU arrest warrant and the reason it was withdrawn in the first place. We find out, now, that if someone is extradited with an EU arrest warrant, that person can only be extradited if the EU country has the same crimes on its statue books. Because Belgium does not have sedition, high treason or rebellion. If the Belgian courts so decided, the Catalans could have been extradited ONLY for misuse of state funds and ONLY be tried on those offences. Something, clearly, Spain did not want.
Germany, on the other hand, still has High Treason. So now the Spanish can get what they want. Life in prison without parole or release. It will be interesting to see what the Germans do. It is quite possible that Germany will deem that the actions of the Catalans do not meet the standards of High Treason, as it would be judged in Germany and then release Puigdemont back into Belgian custody.
The comments out of Spain are revealing. When the leader of the Centre Right says...
There can be no impunity for those who try to destroy European democracy
Clearly not; because "European democracy", as it is working here, does not meet the litmus test of "Democracy" in Britain. Most interesting of all, will be the deliberations of the Scottish courts about Marta Rovira who is currently working at St Andrews University lecturing. That will be a very interesting one as, would the Scottish courts have contemplated jailing Sturgeon, should she have held an illegal referendum, got a Yes vote and unilaterally declared independence??? Then called it High Treason?
Scottish courts have a judgement which does not exist anywhere else in the EU. The Judge may rule that it is "Just" but then decide it is not "Equitable" and acquit the accused.
More interesting is that Spain has taken this opportunity to Jail the latest candidate for the vacant Catalan presidency and four others who might take the role.
At some point, somewhere, someone is going to have to take a stand and say that the Spanish court is hostage to Spanish politics and does not have the requisite separation required by "European Democracy"..... Or any other democracy around the world either...
