Madrid, August 09, 2024, The Europe Today: Spanish Supreme Court Judge Pablo Llarena has called for an explanation from Spanish authorities after Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont managed to enter Spain and evade capture on Thursday, sparking questions about potential collusion and the effectiveness of law enforcement.
Judge Llarena’s demand for answers comes as a massive manhunt continues for Puigdemont, who has been living in self-imposed exile since 2017. The judge specifically requested a report from Barcelona police, amid allegations that some officers may have assisted Puigdemont in his escape.
Puigdemont’s lawyer, Gonzalo Boye, confirmed on Friday that the former Catalan president had already fled abroad again, further complicating efforts to apprehend him.
Who is Carles Puigdemont?
Carles Puigdemont, 61, is the leader of Junts per Catalunya (Together for Catalonia), a prominent Catalan separatist party. As regional president in 2017, Puigdemont orchestrated an independence referendum deemed illegal by Madrid. Following the referendum, he was removed from office by the central government and fled to Belgium after a warrant was issued for his arrest.
While some separatist leaders have received amnesty, Puigdemont remains wanted on embezzlement charges, which are not covered by the amnesty deal.
What Happened in Barcelona?
On Thursday, Puigdemont managed to re-enter Spain undetected, where he delivered a passionate speech at the Catalan parliament in Barcelona, calling for greater autonomy for Catalonia.
“We don’t have the right to give up because the right to self-determination belongs to the Catalan people,” Puigdemont declared during his address.
Following the speech, Puigdemont disappeared into the crowd, evading capture by authorities. Catalan regional police have since arrested two of their own officers on suspicion of aiding in Puigdemont’s escape. The officers reportedly delayed his arrest to avoid causing public disorder.
Boye downplayed the escape, stating that Puigdemont had simply “completed his political work and went home after his work was done, like everyone else does.” While Boye did not disclose Puigdemont’s current location, it is believed that he has returned to Belgium, where he has previously resided.
Junts Reevaluates Support for Central Government
In response to Puigdemont’s latest escape and the broader political implications, Junts secretary-general Jordi Turull announced that the party is reassessing its support for Spain’s central government. Although Junts is not part of the Socialist coalition government led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, the minority government relies on smaller parties like Junts to pass its agenda.
Turull noted that the situation in Catalonia has “changed a lot” since Sánchez’s government was formed in November of last year. He suggested that without a broader application of the amnesty deal for separatist leaders, there is only “a very narrow path forward or no path at all” to achieving peace with Madrid.
As tensions continue to rise, the central government faces mounting pressure to address the political unrest in Catalonia and ensure the rule of law is upheld.
