• Spain's Constitutional Court ruled an amnesty applies to separatist Puigdemont.
• Supreme Court lifted the arrest warrant, allowing his return to Spain.
• Puigdemont's return could reshape the political landscape ahead of elections.

A significant legal ruling in Spain has paved the way for Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont to return home without fear of arrest. The Spanish Constitutional Court determined that an amnesty law applies to Catalan separatists, including embezzlement charges against Puigdemont, who fled to Belgium in 2017 after a controversial independence referendum. This ruling cleared a major procedural hurdle, leading to the lifting of his arrest warrant by a Supreme Court judge shortly thereafter, marking a pivotal moment in the ongoing Catalan independence saga, according to Reuters, Los Angeles Times, and Al Jazeera.

The legality of Puigdemont's return is especially noteworthy as Spain prepares for a snap election on November 29. The amnesty legislation, which was critical for Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in securing the support of Puigdemont’s party, Junts, has been a contentious issue. Despite the party's current low popularity, Puigdemont's imminent return could reignite tensions and drama in both Spanish and Catalan politics, according to Reuters and Los Angeles Times.

Junts welcomed the ruling as a victory, with party officials asserting that Puigdemont's return symbolizes resilience against the Spanish state. The potential political ramifications are significant, especially considering that opposition parties will likely leverage his return against Sánchez during the election campaign, which is already overshadowed by pressing issues such as housing protests, according to Los Angeles Times and Al Jazeera.

Pedro Sánchez emphasized the amnesty law as an attempt to foster "coexistence among Catalans" and reiterated his commitment to it despite Junts’ withdrawal of support following unfulfilled promises. The lifting of Puigdemont's arrest warrant and the amnesty ruling mark crucial developments as Spain’s conservative People's Party could gain an advantage in the upcoming elections, possibly seeking alliances with Junts and other center-right parties to govern, according to Reuters, Los Angeles Times, and Al Jazeera.