The European Court of Justice has upheld former European Parliament president Antonio Tajani’s decision not to recognize Carles Puigdemont as an MEP, stating that Tajani was simply following the requirements of Spanish electoral law. As Puigdemont and fellow separatist leader Antonio Comín did not take the oath to respect the national constitution, they were not officially recognized as MEPs and their seats were declared vacant. Tajani’s decision not to consider them as MEPs only had a temporary effect, as they were later able to take their seats in early 2020 due to a ruling in favor of another Catalan politician. However, the recent ruling by the ECJ could now impact Comín, who was re-elected in the 2024 vote but has been unable to take his seat pending the outcome of this decision.
The ruling by the European Court of Justice definitively rejects Puigdemont’s and Comín’s status as MEPs in the 2019 elections, highlighting the importance of complying with national electoral laws for becoming an MEP. The ECJ stated that Tajani had no power to verify the accuracy of the list of elected candidates officially notified to him by the Spanish authorities, and that disregarding the division of powers between EU institutions and member states would be problematic. This ruling may have significant implications for Comín, who was the only candidate for the Junts per Catalunya party in last year’s European elections, as he has been unable to take his seat pending the outcome of this decision.
The decision by the European Court of Justice could impact the future of Comín, who was re-elected in the 2024 vote but has been unable to take his seat due to the unresolved issue with his MEP status. The Parliament has refrained from taking any action on Comín’s case until the ruling by the European judiciary was known, and they are now analyzing the recent decision by the ECJ. The refusal to recognize Puigdemont and Comín as MEPs by Tajani only had a temporary effect, as they were able to take their seats in early 2020, but the recent ruling may have more lasting consequences for Comín’s status as an MEP.
The European Court of Justice’s ruling supports the decision made by former European Parliament president Antonio Tajani, emphasizing the importance of complying with national electoral laws in order to be recognized as an MEP. The ECJ stated that Tajani did what he was required to do by not considering Puigdemont and Comín as MEPs since they had not fulfilled the requirements set by Spanish electoral law. This ruling highlights the significance of following legal procedures and upholding the division of powers between EU institutions and member states when it comes to determining MEP status. The impact of this decision may now be felt most by Comín, whose ability to take his seat as an MEP is contingent upon the resolution of this issue following the recent ruling by the European Court of Justice.
Puigdemont and Comín have not yet issued any statements in response to the ruling by the European Court of Justice, which rejected their status as MEPs in the 2019 elections and upheld Antonio Tajani’s decision not to consider them as EU lawmakers. The uncertainty surrounding Comín’s status as an MEP persists, as the Parliament awaits further analysis of the recent ECJ decision before taking any action. The outcome of this ruling could have long-term implications for Comín, who was re-elected in the 2024 vote but has been unable to take his seat pending clarification on his MEP status. The legal and political ramifications of this decision will continue to unfold in the coming days as the Parliament determines its next steps in light of the ruling by the European Court of Justice.
