Former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont has announced that he is taking his ‘return journey from exile’ in order to attend the investiture debate taking place in the Catalan Parliament on Thursday morning, despite facing likely arrest upon his return to Spain.
The Catalan Socialist (PSC) candidate Salvador Illa is expected to become the new president of Catalonia on Thursday, which will mark a significant shift in the tide of Catalan politics – the first time a president in favour of Spanish unity will lead the regional government since 2010. ALSO READ: Pro-independence ERC party backs socialists to form government in Catalonia.
In a video posted on social media with English subtitles (see below), Puigdemont explained that ‘in normal democratic conditions, for an MP like me to announce his intention to attend that session would be unnecessary’.
Puigdemont is the figurehead of the hardline pro-independence Junts per Catalunya (JxCat) party, and led Catalonia between 2016 and 2017 before fleeing Spain following a referendum on independence deemed illegal by the judiciary.
The Spanish parliament passed an amnesty law in May pardoning those involved in the failed 2017 secession bid, but the Supreme Court has upheld arrest warrants for Puigdemont and two others, who were also charged with embezzlement, ruling that the amnesty law does not apply to them. ALSO READ: Controversial Catalan amnesty law gets final approval in Spanish Congress.
It remains unclear how Puigdemont plans to return to the country and enter the regional parliament while evading police.
The Catalan police, the Mossos d’Esquadra, are putting together an increased security plan around and inside Barcelona’s Ciutadella Park, where the Catalan Parliament is located.
The Mossos have deployed additional officers ahead of the expected return of Puigdemont, with the aim of preventing him from entering the parliament building, according to Spanish media reports.
On Wednesday, dozens of security agents were already deployed around the park to control access and movements of potential demonstrators. Authorities plan to close the park and restrict access to any non-accredited person.
There will also be riot police deployed in the area in anticipation of two opposing demonstrations regarding the arrest of Puigdemont, one organised by the far-right Vox party and another by the former president’s own party, JxCat.
Jordi Turull, secretary-general of JxCat, told Catalan broadcaster 324 on Tuesday that he would call for the leadership vote to be suspended if Puigdemont is detained, as ‘it cannot take place in normal conditions’ without him present.
The vote to invest Salvador Illa, who will be backed by the more moderate pro-independence party, Esquerra Republicana (ERC), after a bilateral deal last week, will kick off on Thursday at 10am local time.
Puigdemont lived in Belgium from 2017 to 2024 while serving as a member of the European Parliament but has in recent months been based in southern France. Spanish media reports that he will be arrested immediately upon re-entering Spain and brought before the Supreme Court in Madrid.
In an open letter posted on his X/Twitter account on Friday, Puigdemont described Spain’s efforts to detain him as a ‘hybrid coup’, adding ‘if they succeed, I imagine what awaits me and know what I must do’.
ERC spokesperson Raquel Sans acknowledged on Tuesday that Puigdemont’s arrest could delay the vote for a new Catalan leader.
Police will try to arrest Puigdemont before he reaches the heavily guarded parliament building in Barcelona, but are also authorised to enter if needed, El Periodico newspaper reported, citing police sources.
Puigdemont’s party, JxCat, has announced on social media a ‘welcoming’ gathering for him at 9am on Thursday in the Passeig Lluís Companys in Barcelona, just a short walk away from the Catalan Parliament.
In 2011, then-leader Artur Mas was forced to access the building’s rooftop by helicopter after it was surrounded by nearly 1,000 anti-austerity activists protesting against budget cuts.
ALSO READ: Countdown begins in Catalonia for possible new elections in mid-October.
Click here for all our reports related to Catalan independence.
El Parlament de Catalunya ha convocat a tots els diputats al debat d’investidura del pròxim president de la Generalitat. Jo hi he de ser i hi vull ser. Per això he emprès el viatge de retorn des de l’exili. pic.twitter.com/jcO5MA8czX
— krls.eth / Carles Puigdemont (@KRLS) August 7, 2024
Regarding the events in Catalan politics and my return after seven years in exile, I have written this letter. The rejection by the Spanish Supreme Court to apply the amnesty law is nothing less than an hybrid coup.
📑 «Seven years in exile, Amnesty, investiture, and prison»… pic.twitter.com/XgOpTe9kIv
— krls.eth / Carles Puigdemont (@KRLS) August 6, 2024
📢 CONVOCATÒRIA
Rebuda institucional al 130è president de la Generalitat de Catalunya, Carles Puigdemont.
📅 8 d’agost de 2024.
🕘 9:00h.
📍 Passeig de Lluís Companys, Barcelona. pic.twitter.com/AxhUiQi18E— Junts per Catalunya🎗 (@JuntsXCat) August 7, 2024
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