The former leader of Catalonia, Carles Puigdemont, has made a daring return to Spain after seven years in exile, sparking a dramatic hunt by police in Barcelona. Despite facing an outstanding arrest warrant, Puigdemont was seen leaving a rally in a car, prompting Catalan police to set up roadblocks in the city as part of Operation Jaula – or “cage” – in an attempt to locate him.
Puigdemont, who has been living in Brussels for several years, was indicted on charges related to a failed bid for Catalan independence in 2017. At that time, Catalonia’s pro-independence leaders, including Puigdemont, organized a referendum that was deemed illegal by Spain’s constitutional court, leading to the region declaring independence and Madrid imposing direct rule.
On Thursday morning, Puigdemont briefly addressed supporters near the Catalan parliament in Barcelona before disappearing. Many expected him to appear at the investiture ceremony for a new head of the Catalan government, but his whereabouts remain unknown.
Despite the police operation and reports of officers being detained for allegedly aiding Puigdemont’s escape, he remains at large. His return is seen as a move to pressure authorities to apply the country’s new amnesty law to him and disrupt the appointment of a new Catalan president.
Puigdemont’s return has also highlighted tensions within the pro-independence movement in Catalonia, with his Junts per Catalunya party vying for dominance over the Catalan Republican Left. The former regional president’s actions have put pressure on the ERC, which is currently responsible for the Catalan police force, making his return a challenge for the party.
As the search for Puigdemont continues, the political landscape in Catalonia remains uncertain, with the former leader’s return adding a new layer of complexity to the region’s ongoing struggle for independence.
