Puigdemont Plans Return to Spain During Police Investigation
- Carles Puigdemont, who has been in exile since 2017 due to his involvement in Catalonia's independence push, has announced his intention to return to Spain.
- His return coincides with a police investigation as he prepares to attend a parliamentary session.
- This development has significant implications for the ongoing political tensions surrounding Catalonia's quest for independence.
Authorities in Catalonia are ramping up security measures as former regional leader Carles Puigdemont announces his return from seven years of exile. Puigdemont plans to attend a parliamentary session on Thursday, where a new leader for Catalonia is set to be sworn in. His return raises the likelihood of arrest due to his involvement in the 2017 independence referendum, which the Spanish government deemed unconstitutional. The regional police force, Mossos D'Esquadra, is taking extensive precautions, including closing access to the Palace of the Catalan Parliament and deploying additional officers to the area. The police have locked down Ciutadella Park, which surrounds the parliament, and have conducted thorough searches of the building, including its sewers, to ensure safety during the investiture ceremony. A police spokesperson described these actions as standard security protocols for such events. Salvador Illa, from Spain's Socialist party, is poised to become Catalonia's new governor, signaling a potential shift away from decades of separatist leadership. However, the Socialist party currently holds a minority coalition and relies on Puigdemont's Junts party for support. His arrest could lead to increased tensions and instability in the region, complicating the political landscape. In a related legal development, Spain's Supreme Court ruled in July that an embezzlement charge against Puigdemont does not apply, but an arrest warrant remains in effect, adding to the uncertainty surrounding his return.