Ex-Catalan leader Puigdemont to spend Easter in prison

By Ayhan Simsek

BERLIN (AA) - German prosecutors said on Wednesday that they would not be able to take any legal action until next week on Spain’s request to extradite former Catalan leader, Carles Puigdemont.

The separatist leader was arrested on Sunday morning by German police acting on a European arrest warrant issued by Spain.

Public Prosecutor’s Office in the northern town of Schleswig told local media that their examination of Spain’s extradition request will continue until at least next week.

“A decision on whether or not to ask for his extradition should not be expected before next week,” a spokesperson told German news agency DPA, adding that it was a highly complex legal matter.

Puigdemont will have to spend Easter in prison as the four-day holiday in Germany will begin on Friday.

If found permissible by the prosecutors, Spain’s extradition request will then be examined by Higher Regional Court in Schleswig, which will also be responsible for the decision.

Puigdemont was detained in northern Germany, while he was traveling from Denmark to Belgium.

On Friday, a Spanish court reactivated a European arrest warrant against him on charges of sedition, rebellion and misuse of public funds.

The 55-year-old politician led a parliamentary session in October last year that saw separatist lawmakers vote for the region of Catalonia to declare independence from Spain.

He and 12 other separatist leaders were officially charged with rebellion.

Since October, Puigdemont was living in Belgium.