Spanish election officials ban Catalonia’s ex-leader Puigdemont from running in EU polls

Election authorities in Spain have banned Catalonia’s former president Carles Puigdemont, who fled the country in 2017 after a secession attempt, from running in EU polls, AFP reported.

The Together for Catalonia party issued a statement accusing the electoral commission of wanting to “silence and push aside” Puigdemont “so that he can’t explain what he represents at the heart of European institutions.”

The commission decision also excludes Toni Comin, who was in Catalonia’s regional government when the secession bid happened and is now in self-exile in Belgium.

Clara Ponsati, another former Catalan minister who fled Spain and planned to run in the elections, has been banned as well. No reason was given as to why they were banned from running.