Puigdemont is already free to leave Germany

Bail conditions lifted by judge after Spain withdrew European Arrest Warrant

Carles Puigdemont outside the Neumünster prison (by ACN)
Carles Puigdemont outside the Neumünster prison (by ACN) / ACN

ACN | Barcelona

July 20, 2018 02:34 PM

Former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont is already free to leave Germany.

A German court lifted on Friday the bail conditions set during his extradition process, which stopped him from leaving the country and forced him to sign in every week at the police station.

The move came the day after the Spanish Supreme Court  dropped the extradition request against Puigdemont.

Germany had only accepted to extradite the Catalan leader for misuse of public funds, but not rebellion, after which the Spanish judge decided to withdraw the request altogether.

The Spanish judge also dropped the European Arrest Warrants against five other Catalan leaders in exile in countries such as Belgium, Scotland, and Switzerland.

Carles Puigdemont is expected to move back to Belgium, where he lived before he was arrested last March. Sources close to him suggest he might not be back before next week.