Politics · Spain · 18 hrs ago
Toni Comín completes oath required to take up his European Parliament seat
Toni Comín, a Junts politician and former Catalan government minister, returned to Spain after about nine years abroad.
He completed the required constitutional pledge in Madrid so he can take up his European Parliament seat, won in 2024.
He had not been able to take the seat because Spanish rules require the pledge to be made in person.
Comín had faced an arrest order linked to the 2017 Catalan independence referendum, but the order was lifted after Spain’s Constitutional Court confirmed the amnesty law applied to him.
The lifted order allowed him to return without risk of arrest under it.
Comín said his visit to Madrid was a formal step, not the end of his exile, which he says will end when he returns to Catalonia on Sunday.
The pledge clears the way for him to begin serving as an MEP.
Toni Comín returned to Spain after nine years abroad and completed a required step to take up his European Parliament seat.
On Thursday, 22 October 2026, he appeared before Spain’s Central Electoral Board and promised to abide by the Constitution.
Comín won his seat in the 2024 European elections, but it had remained vacant because he had not completed the in-person formalities.
He was able to travel to Spain after detention measures against him were lifted.
Comín said he plans to return to Catalonia on Sunday and described his return as a victory.
- Who
- Toni Comín, a Junts politician and former Catalan health minister.
- What
- He returned to Spain and promised to abide by the Constitution to complete a step required to take up his European Parliament seat.
- When
- Thursday, 22 October 2026. He said he plans to return to Catalonia on Sunday.
- Where
- He appeared at Spain’s Central Electoral Board in Madrid.
- Why
- To complete the formalities required to exercise his European Parliament mandate.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Comín won a seat in the European Parliament elections.
He crossed into Spain by car through the French Basque Country.
He appeared in Madrid, renewed his identity card and promised to abide by the Constitution before the Central Electoral Board.
Comín said he plans to cross on foot into Catalonia.
- Return
- First time in Spain in nine years
- Electoral step
- Promised to abide by the Constitution before the Central Electoral Board
- European Parliament seat
- Won in the 2024 elections; remained vacant pending in-person formalities
- Party
- Junts
- Planned return to Catalonia
- Sunday
5 sources
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What people are saying
The Spanish state has used all its criminal, political and espionage resources for nine years to prevent what is happening today: my return in full freedom and without having spent a second in a Spanish prison.
The Spanish state’s poor sportsmanship confirms our victory, and all it has left is the right to protest.
The moment I crossed it, I had the physical feeling of having won.
Leaving exile means going home, returning to Catalonia.