Information
A Spanish Supreme Court judge has demanded explanations from the police and government regarding how Carles Puigdemont, a fugitive Catalan separatist leader, managed to enter Spain undetected and subsequently disappear. Judge Pablo Llarena has called for a specific account from the Barcelona police amidst allegations of collusion with Puigdemont’s entourage that facilitated his escape. This incident has reignited tensions as Puigdemont, who has been in self-imposed exile since 2017 following a controversial independence referendum, remains a divisive figure in Spanish politics. Despite a broad amnesty for certain separatist leaders, Puigdemont is still wanted on charges of embezzlement, which are not covered by the amnesty.
The situation escalated when Puigdemont made a surprise appearance in Barcelona, delivering a speech advocating for greater Catalan autonomy and then vanishing into the crowd at the Catalan parliament. His brief return coincided with the election of Salvador Illa as the region’s first pro-Spanish leader in years. Following his departure, Catalan police arrested two officers suspected of aiding his escape. Meanwhile, Puigdemont’s party, Junts per Catalunya, is reevaluating its support for the Spanish central government, which could further destabilize the fragile coalition led by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. This political turmoil highlights ongoing tensions between Catalan separatists and the central government, underscoring the complex and volatile nature of regional politics in Spain.
Source: AFP, dpa, Reuters
So what
This is embarrassing for the Spanish authorities who have been working to have Puigdemont deported from France since the attempted independence referendum in 2017. It seems likely that his appearance in Barcelona was somewhat supported by local police, who he likely has some supporters in. While it seems unlikely that the Spanish authorities will catch him following this event, it will likely lead to an investigation into the Police in Barcelona.
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