Tensions between Spain and Germany due to Pudgemont's release: EU questioned

The German court's decision to free former Italian Carles Puidgemont from the investigation after being held for 12 days on a European arrest warrant has created tensions between Chancellor Angela Merkel's government and Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, writes El Pais, Pryskopi submits.

The Spanish executive does not hide his anger with Germany's decision, saying he undermines their strategy to deal with other separatist leaders who have fled the country to face the legal consequences of the actions they took.

Puidgemont and other top officials fled months ago to Belgium, Switzerland and Scotland to avoid arrest in Spain under investigation of rebellion, uprising and abuse of public funds related to the illegal referendum and unilateral declaration of independence in October last year.

The former Catalan prime minister was arrested in Germany after returning from Finland to Belgium. Spanish authorities had so far hoped that Germany would hand over Pudgemont to them, praising him for high treason.

The Spanish prime minister, Rajoy, has said that Europe should not only be united economically and commercially, but also for moral and democratic values, Periscope reports.

Comments in Spain have been so severe that it is hard to guess without hearing. Esteban Gonzalez Pons, said: “If someone tries to make a kiss and doesn't go back to where he tried to pull a stick, maybe this means that removing the boundaries between countries has been a bad decision. If the EU is used by several states to counter other states, then this union is losing its function.” / El Pais / Periscope