Catalan Separatist Returns to Spain, Sparking Police Manhunt
Ex-Catalonia leader Carles Puigdemont returned to Spain for the first time since 2017 despite an outstanding arrest warrant against him, appearing in Barcelona before fleeing the scene. Local police are still searching for the fugitive who is wanted for organizing an independence referendum in Ca...
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Facts
- Ex-Catalonia leader Carles Puigdemont returned to Spain for the first time since 2017 despite an outstanding arrest warrant against him, appearing in Barcelona before fleeing the scene. Local police are still searching for the fugitive who is wanted for organizing an independence referendum in Catalonia.[1]
- After seven years in self-imposed exile, Puigdemont announced earlier this week that he would be at the Catalan parliament in Barcelona for Thursday’s investiture of Catalonia’s new leader Salvador Illa. He delivered a short speech to a crowd of supporters at the Arc de Triomf before disappearing.[2]
- Puigdemont is believed to have fled in a car belonging to a member of Catalonia’s police force – called Mossos d’Esquadra – and two officers were arrested for their alleged involvement. The regional police activated a search-and-detain operation around 10 am but ended the active search later in the day.[3][4]
- Independence for the northeastern region has been one of Spain’s main political issues in recent years, and Puigdemont played a major role in organizing a vote on secession despite the central government and Constitutional Court declaring it illegal. He was charged with embezzlement for his actions.[4]
- Spain passed amnesty to withdraw legal action against Catalan separatists earlier this year; however, Puigdemont was excluded from the protections.[5][6]
Sources: [1]NPR Online News, [2]Guardian, [3]EL PAÍS English, [4]Associated Press, [5]BBC News (a) and [6]BBC News (b).
Narratives
- Narrative A, as provided by X. Carles Puigdemont courageously returned to Spain despite the illegitimate and fascistic arrest warrant against him. Numerous international and European courts have denounced Spain’s legal action against Puigdemont and other Catalan nationalists, yet the country’s authoritarian leaders still target patriots. Organizing a vote for independence is not a crime, and the Spanish government must stop its persecution of Puigdemont and other freedom fighters.
- Narrative B, as provided by Vozpópuli. Puigdemont is a treasonous criminal who tried to illegally separate Catalonia from Spain, and he must be brought to justice. While some politicians may try to make a deal with traitors for political gain, Spanish patriots will not allow subversive opportunists to fracture the nation. Catalonia is an integral part of Spain, yet Puigdemont decided to disgrace his countrymen. This cannot stand.
