Carles Puigdemont Returns to Spain, Faces Arrest Threat
After six years in exile, Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont has returned to Spain. He addressed a crowd of supporters in Barcelona before being met by a potential arrest.
Puigdemont faces an outstanding arrest warrant related to his role in the 2017 secession referendum, which ended in failure. Despite a recent amnesty law, the Supreme Court has ruled that the law does not apply to him.
He addressed the persecution he and his supporters have faced, stating, “They have been persecuting us for seven years just because we wanted to give the Catalans a voice.”
Puigdemont aims to attend a meeting of Catalonia‘s parliament on Thursday, where Salvador Illa is expected to be elected as the new regional leader. Illa represents a shift in the region’s political landscape, as he opposes secession from Spain.
The election of a leader who opposes secession could potentially pave the way for political reconciliation in Catalonia. However, tensions remain high, and Puigdemont’s return is likely to heighten the political climate in Spain.