On 08 August, Carles Puigdemont, a former Catalan separatist leader currently in a self-declared exile in Belgium visited Barcelona. In his speech, he condemned the Spanish judges for derailing his right to speak and vote. His return was after seven years, in his speech, he said: “We have been persecuted for years, and we are subjected to repression that has affected thousands of people for being pro-independence. Being Catalan has become something suspicious.” Mossos d’Esquadra, the regional police in Catalonia had planned for his arrest after the speech at the parliament building but eventually failed. He escaped through the crowd allegedly with the help of Catalan officers. A day later, he posted on the social media platform X that he was back in Belgium after "difficult days."

After his escape, the police launched "Operation Cage" by causing roadblocks and traffic jams up to the French border to locate him. The two Catalan officers accused of assisting the escape were arrested. Pablo Llarena, a judge of Spain’s Supreme Court demanded an explanation from the Barcelona police on his escape and arrival back in Belgium. 

Alberto Núñez Feijóo, the opposition- Spanish Peoples Party's leader accused Pedro Sanchez, Spain's Prime Minister of the incident. He referred to it as an "unbearable humiliation" and asked for the resignation of Fernando Grande-Marlaska and Margarita Robles, the Interior Minister and Intelligence Chief of Spain.

Who is Carles Puigdemont? And what is the issue over his visit?
Carles Puigdemont is a separatist leader and former president of Catalonia who led the independence referendum in 2017 to separate the region from Spain. As the President, he approved laws for conducting the referendum for the provision of a legal framework that would supersede the Spanish constitution. It was conducted despite the suspension of laws by the Constitutional Court of Spain. On 27 October 2017, he declared unilateral independence from Spain after the majority of Catalans voted for separation.  This was followed by the dismissal of Puigdemont’s government and the imposition of direct rule from Spain. He faces arrest warrants from Spain on charges of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds during the referendum. During the Catalonia elections in May 2024, Sanchez withdrew the legal proceedings through the Amnesty bill but not the arrest warrant. His political party, JuntsxCat supports and remains popular among the pro-Catalan supporters of independence.

After the parliamentary elections of July 2023, Sanchez’s government needed the support of Puigdemont’s party, JuntsxCat to remain in power for another term. This led to the passage of the controversial amnesty bill granting pardons to accused Catalan leaders for their part in the 2017 referendum. JuntsxCat also threatened to withdraw their support as some felt Puigdemont was denied his “political rights.” The Spanish government managed to maintain the coalition and appoint Salvador Illa as the new President of Catalonia. Under the deal between the prime minister’s socialists and the leftist separatist ERC (Catalan Republican Left) party, Sanchez has promised an economic powerhouse larger than Portugal or Finland, independence on fiscal matters, with no tax collection from Spain. However, the government faces a dilemma between the two groups that are instrumental in its survival; those against Puigdemont (mostly Spaniards) and the pro-Catalan supporters in Sanchez’s party.

The incident could revive the spirit of the pro-independence movement and aggravate the already divided society. The two nationalist movements- Catalan and Spanish remain to be at odds. His return was welcomed by a large number of pro-independence Catalans who still consider him as President. They saw him as a ray of hope to bring the long-awaited independence from Spain. He was also protected by them in his attempt to evade the police. The loophole in the amnesty bill could invoke the possibility of protests by them against the Spanish government. Meanwhile, the Spaniards saw this as a threat to the existence of their nationhood and solidarity. Most of them oppose, Puigdemont, separatist leaders and movements. 

References
“Catalan leader Puigdemont reemerges in Spain, then vanishes, evading arrest,” The Washington Post, 09 August 2024
“Defying Spanish Arrest Warrant, Carles Puigdemont Returns to Catalonia,” The New York Times, 08 August 2024
“Puigdemont says he’s back in Belgium, as Catalonia welcomes new president,” POLITICO, 10 August 2024
“After Barcelona speech, fugitive Catalan leader Puigdemont does disappearing act,” Courthouse News Service, 08 August 2024