By V.E.K.Madhushani, Jadetimes News
"Puigdemont Evades Authorities After Surprising Return to Barcelona"
Carles Puigdemont, the exiled former Catalan leader, has successfully evaded a large scale police operation and fled Spain, according to his party. Spanish authorities launched the manhunt on Thursday after Puigdemont made a surprising return to Spain, briefly addressing a crowd in Barcelona before vanishing.
The 61 year old politician is wanted in Spain on charges related to the failed 2017 Catalan independence bid. After a dramatic 24 hours on the run, Puigdemont has reportedly returned to Belgium, where he has been living in exile. This was confirmed by Jordi Turull, the secretary general of his party, on Friday.
In 2017, Puigdemont, along with other pro independence Catalan leaders, organized a referendum that was declared illegal by Spain's Constitutional Court. Following their declaration of independence for the region, Madrid swiftly imposed direct rule over Catalonia, prompting Puigdemont to flee to Belgium. He has resided in Brussels for much of the past several years.
On his return to Catalonia after seven years in exile, Puigdemont briefly addressed hundreds of supporters near the Catalan parliament in Barcelona. "Long live a free Catalonia!" he declared, adding that he had returned "to remind you that we are still here." He also stated, "Holding a referendum is not and will never be a crime," before making a quick escape.
Jordi Turull later confirmed in an interview that Puigdemont was back in Brussels but could not verify if he had returned to his home in the Waterloo municipality. Catalan police chief commissioner Eduard Sallent told reporters on Friday that they had no information on Puigdemont's current location. Sallent mentioned that the plan had been to arrest Puigdemont "in the most suitable place." He also confirmed that two police officers were detained on suspicion of aiding Puigdemont in his escape, and that the involvement of other officers is under investigation.
Spanish media reported that one of the officers allegedly owns the vehicle used by Puigdemont to escape after his speech. The police have denied any collusion with Puigdemont, stating that he "took advantage of the crowd around him and fled the scene in a vehicle that the Mossos [Catalan police] tried to stop but failed."
According to Turull, Puigdemont had been in Barcelona since Tuesday before his surprise appearance at the Catalan parliament on Thursday. He reportedly had dinner in Barcelona on Tuesday night and spent Wednesday and Thursday in the region. His appearance coincided with the investiture of Socialist Salvador Illa as the new Catalan president.
In response to Puigdemont's escape, a manhunt was initiated, with roadblocks temporarily set up around Barcelona. Spanish TV broadcasted images from La Jonquera, a border town near France, where police were seen stopping vehicles and checking their trunks.
Catalan police are now under intense scrutiny from a Spanish Supreme Court judge, who has demanded an explanation for Puigdemont's successful escape. Judge Pablo Llarena, who issued the arrest warrant for Puigdemont, has also requested information from Spain's interior ministry about its plans to apprehend him at the border.
Justice Minister Felix Bolanos stated that the responsibility for capturing Puigdemont lies with the Mossos, as they are the law enforcement authority in Catalonia. However, Pere Ferrer, the director general of the Mossos, expressed frustration over the situation, stating that the police have been left in an undeserved position and warning against blaming officers for unresolved political issues.
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