News about Carles Puigdemont

Puigdemont, 61, made a much-anticipated return to Spain this week despite a pending arrest warrant against him for his role in a 2017 independence referendum deemed illegal by Spanish courts. Amid a heavy police presence, he told a crowd of thousands of followers in the Catalan capital of Barcelona on Thursday that he aimed to revive the independence drive that plunged Spain into political crisis in 2017. But in an astonishing turn of events, he disappeared shortly after speaking despite being under the eyes of almost as many journalists and police officers who had intended to arrest him after the speech. Former Barcelona Mayor Xavier Trias, who was present at the rally, marvelled at Puigdemont's flight, saying simply: 'It was magic.'

Amid a heavy police presence, Puigdemont told a crowd of thousands of followers in the Catalan capital he aimed to revive the independence drive that plunged Spain into political crisis in 2017. Amid a heavy police presence, Puigdemont told a crowd of thousands of followers in the Catalan capital he aimed to revive the independence drive that plunged Spain into political crisis in 2017. Authorities suspect that, when he had finished speaking, Puigdemont got into a white car belonging to a police officer and fled the scene, a Catalan interior department spokesperson said, sparking a frantic search by authorities that continued into the night.

Barcelona is braced for the expected return of former Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont from self-imposed exile, as the controversial politician is likely to be detained over an outstanding arrest warrant for alleged embezzlement. Sewers were searched by Spanish police yesterday and a door linking the Catalan Parliament to Barcelona Zoo was also sealed ahead of Thursday's vote to prevent any elaborate attempts to breach the premises. Mr Puigdemont has spent seven years in self-imposed exile in Belgium after his arrest was ordered following an illegal independence referendum in 2017. But he sparked a major alert after boasting of his imminent return in a video posted on X on Wednesday, in which he warned: 'I have started the return journey from exile.'

Pedro Sanchez, Spain's acting Prime Minister, has sparked a lot of anxiety over his promise of amnesty for Catalan separatists. Sanchez received the support of the National Basque Party (PNV) and the Canaries' Union, as well as the National Basque Party (PNV) and the Canaries' Coalition. As a result, he seems to be guaranteed another term in office after securing the support of the regional parties, granting him a absolute majority in the 350-member lower house in the coming days. Sanchez's relationship with the Catalan rebels has opened up a gap in Spanish society and puts the ability of his own political family in jeopardy, according to observers.