(Barcelona) Catalan independence leader Carles Puigdemont, in exile for seven years, confirmed on Wednesday his intention to return to his region on Thursday, a return for which his party has called a welcome demonstration the same day, near the regional parliament.
On Thursday, the parliament will vote on the investiture of the new president of the Generalitat, the Catalan regional government, who is expected to be the socialist Salvador Illa.
“In normal democratic conditions, it would be useless for a deputy like me to announce his intention to attend the session, it would not matter,” says Carles Puigdemont, who fled Spain to escape prosecution after the failed secession attempt in 2017, in a video published on X.
“But we do not live in normal democratic conditions,” he continues, referring to his case and that of another pro-independence MP.
“First, because we are facing a long persecution for having allowed the Catalans to vote in a referendum. And second, because the Supreme Court refuses to obey the amnesty law approved and in force […]”This challenge must be taken up and faced. That is why we have taken the path back from exile,” adds Puigdemont, who had already hinted several times in recent days that he would return to Catalonia to attend Thursday’s investiture vote.
Carles Puigdemont is still the subject of an arrest warrant in Spain, despite the amnesty law negotiated by Pedro Sanchez in exchange for the support of his party Junts per Catalunya (Together for Catalonia) for his government.
Heavily criticized by the opposition, this law is at the heart of multiple legal debates and, on 1er In July, the Supreme Court ruled that it only applied to some of the crimes the pro-independence leader is charged with, opening the way for his possible pretrial detention.
“I am convinced that there is no other path to democratic normality than the end of political repression, an end envisaged in the letter and spirit of the amnesty law,” adds Carles Puigdemont in his video, recorded in front of a Catalan flag and a European flag.
“We cannot remain silent in the face of the rebellious attitude that some judges of the Supreme Court have engaged in,” he also assures.
For its part, Junts per Catalunya called in a message also published on X for a gathering to welcome Carles Puigdemont on Thursday near the Catalan Parliament in Barcelona, at 9am, one hour before the scheduled start of the investiture session of Salvador Illa.