Search for Puigdemont After Barcelona Speech

Barcelona police are actively searching for Carles Puigdemont, the former leader of Catalonia, who returned to Spain after a seven-year exile despite an outstanding arrest warrant. Puigdemont, who has been living in Brussels since being indicted for his role in a failed independence bid in 2017, addressed a crowd of supporters near the Catalan parliament, emphasizing the ongoing struggle for independence and asserting that holding a referendum is not a crime. Following his speech, he vanished, leading to speculation about his next moves. In response to Puigdemont's unexpected return, the Catalan police, known as Mossos d'Esquadra, have initiated an operation to locate and apprehend him. Reports indicate that police have closed exits from Barcelona and set up roadblocks throughout the city to prevent his escape. The urgency of the search is heightened by the timing of his return, coinciding with the investiture of Socialist Salvador Illa as the new Catalan president, marking a significant political shift in the region. Puigdemont's motivations for returning appear twofold: to pressure authorities into applying a new amnesty law to him and to disrupt Illa's investiture. His presence is also a strategic move to reinforce his party, Junts per Catalunya (JxCat), as the leading pro-independence force, while undermining the Catalan Republican Left (ERC), which has supported Illa's ascension. This political maneuvering complicates the situation for ERC, which currently oversees the Catalan police.