A Belgian judge has decided to leave exiled Catalan ministers Toni Comín and Lluís Puig free whilst the European Arrest Warrant for them is examined. This Thursday, they had appeared in court for a first hearing after the new extradition request, the third, was brought three weeks after Spain's Supreme Court announced its verdicts against their colleagues.

The judge decided to not apply any bail measures against the ministers, beyond requiring them to report any plans to leave the country, whilst the extradition request goes through the courts. The ministers today stated they oppose their extradition.

"It's the third time a Belgian judge has left us free after a Spanish European Arrest Warrant", Puig noted, speaking to the media after leaving court. As for Pedro Sánchez's controversial comments about the independence of the public prosecution service, Comín said "his remarks will be used for our defence".