Spanish Supreme Court head blasts European courts for rejecting extraditions

Carlos Lesmes accuses Belgian and German judges of generating "uncertainty" after decisions over exiled pro-independence leaders

The Spanish Supreme Court president, Carlos Lesmes, speaking next to the King Felipe (by Pool EFE)
The Spanish Supreme Court president, Carlos Lesmes, speaking next to the King Felipe (by Pool EFE) / ACN

ACN | Barcelona

September 10, 2018 03:33 PM

The Spanish Supreme Court president, Carlos Lesmes, has criticized the European courts that handled the extradition cases of Catalan pro-independence leaders in the past few months.

After a German court rejected rebellion charges in the European arrest warrant against former president Carles Puigdemont, and the Belgian judiciary declined the extradition of some pro-independence officials this spring, Lesmes accused them of generating "uncertainty" with their decisions.

Switzerland courts have not started any extradition process against Marta Rovira, former Catalan MP living in the country and wanted by Spain.

According to Lesmes, also president of the Spanish judiciary authority, the foreign courts in charge of these cases have interpreted some European legal concepts "unilaterally".