Judge Pablo Llarena issued the warrant on charges of sedition and misuse of public funds, the same charges for which nine people received jail sentences on Monday ranging between nine and 13 years in jail. This is the third time the Spanish Supreme Court has issued a warrant for Puigdemont.

Puigdemont and several others fled to Belgium in 2017 when they were summoned to appear in court to answer questions about the secession push and an illegal October 1 independence referendum.