05/12/2017 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 5 December, investigating judge Pablo Llarena at the Spanish Supreme Court withdrew the European arrest warrant calling on Belgium to extradite ousted Catalan President Carles Puigdemont and his four former regional ministers Antonio Comin, Lluis Puig, Meritxell Serret and Clara Ponsati. The reason given by the judge is that Puigdemont and his political advisers, who have sought refuge in Brussels, have shown a willingness to return to Spain to assume elected office. The media report that Llarena said he wanted to avoid a situation where the Belgian courts would not recognise the charges in the arrest warrant issued at the start of November (see EUROPE 11899). Were this to happen, it could lead to significant differences in the charges that could be brought against the Catalan leaders who remained in Spain and those now in Brussels. The Spanish arrest warrant will, however, remain in place. (PH)