Spanish court to rule if Puigdemont can run in EU election

MADRID – Spain's Supreme Court will decide whether Carles Puigdemont and two other Catalan separatists who fled abroad to escape arrest will be able to run in next month's European Parliament elections.

A court on Saturday ruled to send to the Supreme Court an appeal filed by Puigdemont's party against the decision by Spain's Electoral Board to prohibit the three from running in the May 26 race to fill Spain's allotted seats at the parliament in Strasbourg.

All three fled Spain to avoid arrest for their part in Catalonia's failed secession attempt in 2017. Puigdemont and Toni Comín reside in Belgium, while Clara Ponsatí is in the U.K. They are still wanted in Spain.

Spain's state prosecutor says it believes the board's decision could violate the rights of the three separatists.