CLARA Ponsati, the former Catalan education minister who has been adopted by Scotland as she fights extradition from here to Spain, is back in court today as she attempts to have her case formally discharged. 

The move follows Thursday’s decision by a Spanish Supreme Court judge to withdraw European Arrest Warrants (EAWs) against the St Andrews University professor, deposed Catalan president Carles Puigdemont and other former ministers who are exiled across Europe. 

However, the judge, Pablo Llarena, kept in place Spanish national arrest warrants, which means that while they can now travel freely within Europe, all could be arrested in Spain should they try to enter the country. 

READ MORE: Spanish judge drops extradition requests for Clara Ponsati and other Catalan politicians

Ponsati, 61, was arrested in March after handing herself in to police in Edinburgh after the EAW was issued. 

Authorities in Madrid sought her extradition on charges of violent rebellion and misappropriation of public funds over her role in last October’s Catalan independence referendum. 

A four-week extradition hearing was due to start in Edinburgh at the end of this month. 

In a statement, Ponsati’s solicitor, Aamer Anwar, said: “Whilst the withdrawal of the arrest warrants is a tremendous victory, political prisoners still remain in custody in Spain. 

“Clara and others have not had their national warrants withdrawn, thus making Clara a political exile – if she were to return home she would be arrested. 

READ MORE: Full statement on behalf of Clara Ponsati after European Arrest Warrant withdrawn

“If president [Pedro] Sanchez is truly different from the regime of [Mariano] Rajoy then the only solution is a political solution, which must mean a guaranteed return of the political exiles and release of all political prisoners with no conditions attached. 

“It is the sovereign right of the Catalan people to determine the form of government best suited to their needs and it can never be illegal under international law for a people to express their right to self-determination.  Nor, for the record, could it be treason under the law of Scotland. 

“The Spanish judiciary would of course have been aware from the campaign that we have fought and that Clara’s case was due to commence on July 30.  They would also have been aware that it was our intention to cite to court several former ministers from Rajoy’s government including the former vice-president and finance minister.  We were confident in the strength of our legal arguments which would have exposed Spain once again to the full glare of international and judicial scrutiny.” 

READ MORE: Clara Ponsati slams Spain's 'manipulation' – as she receives hero's welcome

He said the professor’s legal team were aware that Llarena was “more than willing” to activate a new European warrant, and added: “The issuing of any revised European Arrest Warrants would clearly be a further example of an abuse of the treaty. 

“Nonetheless, we remain on standby and await the outcome of clarification from the Spanish authorities. 

“Whilst the German decision [on Puigdemont] is not binding on Scotland any resurrection of an arrest warrant would be fought and our preparation is of course almost complete.” 

Anwar said his client would never forget the solidarity of the Scottish people, politicians and staff and students at St Andrews.