Former Catalan President Puigdemont Returns to Barcelona After a Seven-Year Exile
Carles Puigdemont in Barcelona, Aug. 8, 2024. Photo: X/ @catalannews
August 8, 2024 Hour: 7:49 am
The police are deploying the operation ‘Cage’ to locate the pro-independence politician.
On Thursday, former Catalan regional president Carles Puigdemont arrived in Barcelona to participate in an event organized by his supporters and to attempt to attend the inauguration of Socialist Salvador Illa.
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He arrived at the gathering accompanied by leaders of the pro-independence party Together for Catalonia (Junts per Catalunya) and took the stage set up in front of the Arch of Triumph.
“Friends, I don’t know how much time will pass until we see each other again. But no matter what happens, when we meet again, I hope we can once again shout together, loud and clear, ‘Long live a free Catalonia!’” said Puigdemont, who is subject to an arrest warrant.
After cheering for the Catalan leader, thousands of people accompanied him towards the local Parliament, where Salvador Illa will be sworn in as the new president of Catalonia’s regional government.
Carles Puigdemont appeared in Barcelona after spending almost seven years in Belgium due to the Spanish arrest warrants issued following the 2017 referendum in which Catalans voted in favor of independence from Spain.
After participating in the event organized by his party Junts per Catalunya, Puigdemont disappeared into the crowd, making it difficult for the police to track him.
Currently, the Catalan police are deploying an operation called “Cage” to try to locate the pro-independence politician Puigdemont. This operation has activated police checkpoints at the exits of Barcelona, which may also be extended towards the border with France.
teleSUR/ JF Source: EFE
