Spanish judge lifts Puigdemont arrest warrant, enabling return before November election

A Spanish judge lifted the arrest warrant for exiled Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont after the Constitutional Court extended an amnesty law to cover embezzlement. This enables his return to Spain ahead of the November general election, potentially reshaping the political landscape. The move follows a pattern of judicial and political easing of tensions since the 2017 independence crisis, but its impact on the election remains uncertain.