Puigdemont banned from EU elections

Exiled president Carles Puigdemont, along with two of his former cabinet ministers, has been barred from standing in the European Parliament elections by Spain's electoral authority.

The Catalan independence figurehead has been listed as the top candidate for May's vote by his Junts per Catalunya party, which also includes his colleagues Toni Comín and Clara Ponsatí.

However, unionists Ciutadans and the People's Party objected to the trio running from Belgium, accusing them of being "state fugitives", and filed an appeal to the Spanish Electoral Board.

"Flagrant violation"

In a joint statement, the three candidates described the development as a "flagrant violation of the fundamental human right to stand in elections" and said they will contest the decision.

"This is more evidence of collusion between a judiciary that ought to be independent and certain members of the political system," they added, referencing the ongoing Catalan trial in Madrid.