Exiled independence leader Toni Comín pledges in Catalan to uphold Spanish constitution

Toni Comín, the pro-independence Junts MEP-elect, pledged to uphold the Spanish Constitution before the Central Electoral Board (JEC) at the Congress of Deputies in Madrid on Thursday, completing a formality required to take up his seat in the European Parliament.

He made the pledge in Catalan, adding that he was doing so "in accordance with the mandate of October 1 [2017 independence referendum] and by legal imperative."

Comín, who arrived in Madrid by car on Wednesday, was able to return to Spain after Supreme Court judge Pablo Llarena lifted the arrest warrant against him.

Speaking to reporters, he said the procedure showed that the Catalan independence movement "has won."

"I have been able to return to Spain without spending a single second before a Spanish judge," he said.

The Junts MEP-elect made the pledge in Catalan, using the words: "In fidelity to the people of Catalonia and in accordance with the mandate of October 1, by legal imperative, yes, I so pledge." 

9 years in exile

Toni Comín arrived to Madrid on Wednesday evening, breaking a stint of 9 years in exile. 

The independence leader left in the wake of the 2017 referendum and has now returned to Spain after having his arrest warrant dropped.

Comín was elected as an MEP for Junts in the last European elections, and travelled to Madrid to swear an oath to the constitution to take up his seat in the European chamber. 

He crossed the border by car via the French Basque Country on Wednesday.

“The moment I crossed it, I had a physical sensation of having won. Spain has capitulated, because it exhausted all its resources to prevent what will happen this Sunday: my ability to return home as a free man,” he said in an interview with RAC1.

He highlighted that returning to Madrid does not constitute his return from exile, which for him, will actually take place on Sunday when he arrives into Catalonia on foot.

The Central Electoral Board (JEC) summoned him for noon, but before that, he met with his parliamentary group colleagues and renewed his national ID card at the police station located inside the lower house.

Once the proceedings conclude, he explained he will return to Northern Catalonia (a part of historical Catalonia that is now over the French border) to prepare for a return event on Sunday.