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Former Catalan separatist chief Carles Puigdemont defied an arrest warrant to seem at a rally in Barcelona on Thursday after seven years of self-imposed exile, earlier than reportedly fleeing the scene with a automobile belonging to a regional police officer.
Amid a heavy police presence, Puigdemont had informed a crowd of hundreds of followers within the Catalan capital he aimed to revive the independence drive that plunged Spain into political disaster in 2017.
“They thought they’d be celebrating my arrest and they thought that this punishment would dissuade us,” he mentioned. “Well, they are wrong.”
SPAIN’S PARLIAMENT VOTES TO GRANT AMNESTY TO CATALAN SEPARATISTS THROUGH CONTROVERSIAL BILL
Authorities suspect that, when he had completed talking, Puigdemont received right into a white automobile belonging to a police officer and left the neighborhood, a Catalan inside division spokesperson mentioned, sparking a frantic search by authorities.
Catalan separatist chief Carles Puigdemont speaks on his return to Spain from seven years of self-imposed exile regardless of a pending warrant for his arrest, throughout a welcoming occasion organized by his get together, Junts per Catalunya, at Arc de Triomf in Barcelona, Spain, August 8, 2024. (REUTERS/Lorena Sopena)
The regional police, often called the Mossos d’Esquadra, mentioned two of its officers had been arrested as a part of their investigation into Puigdemont’s whereabouts, together with the proprietor of the automobile.
The separatist chief, 61, fled to Belgium seven years in the past after a failed secession bid and has been residing in exile ever since.
He faces an arrest warrant for alleged embezzlement associated to a 2017 independence referendum dominated unlawful by the Spanish courts. Puigdemont says the vote was authorized and due to this fact the fees linked to it don’t have any foundation.
A Mossos spokesman mentioned there was no prior association with Puigdemont for his arrest and the power had determined the detention must be made “at the most appropriate time so as not to generate public disorder.”
Puigdemont ally Laura Borras described the arrested officer on X as “a patriot and exemplary Mosso.”
The hunt for Puigdemont created visitors chaos in Barcelona and close to the border with France as police arrange roadblocks and searched automobile boots.
In Barcelona, a number of Puigdemont supporters clashed with police in a bid to breach the cordon surrounding the park housing the regional parliament constructing. Officers clad in riot gear used batons and pepper spray to discourage them.
DETENTION ORDER
Reacting to information that Puigdemont had once more absconded from underneath the noses of a giant police deployment, a Supreme Court supply mentioned a decide had been clear in his directions that the previous Catalan president was to be arrested.
“The Mossos know that they have a detention order… they had the obligation to detain him and bring him before the courts,” the supply mentioned.
Two nationwide police unions additionally criticised the failure to arrest Puigdemont.
“Where are the Mossos? The best-paid police force in Spain incapable of doing their job, of arresting the coup-monger and fugitive from justice Puigdemont,” police union Jusapol mentioned on X.
Two sources with hyperlinks to the Catalan authorities mentioned it had recognized an issue with some rogue Mossos, who look like loyal to Puigdemont.
A authorities spokesperson didn’t reply to a request for remark, nor did Puigdemont´s lawyer.
His arrest may jeopardise the Socialist-led nationwide authorities´s fragile alliance with Puigdemont’s Junts get together, on which it depends for legislative help.
Catalonia’s parliament on Thursday afternoon confirmed Salvador Illa, an ally of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, as head of the Catalan authorities.
“I will govern for everyone having into account the plurality and diversity of Catalonia,” Illa mentioned.
The Socialists hope taking management in Catalonia after a decade of separatist rule will flip the web page on the independence drive.
The Spanish parliament handed an amnesty legislation in May pardoning these concerned within the failed 2017 secession bid, however the Supreme Court upheld arrest warrants for Puigdemont and two others who have been additionally charged with embezzlement, ruling that the amnesty legislation doesn’t apply to them.
The crowd of hundreds, who had gathered close to the parliament to welcome him, hoped his return would assist construct momentum in the direction of independence, which has misplaced help lately.
“It represents the return of a symbol,” mentioned Xavier Vizcaino, 63, who was wrapped in an independence flag.
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No-one had anticipated him to vanish once more.
Former Barcelona Mayor Xavier Trias, who was current on the rally, marvelled at Puigdemont’s flight.
“It was magic,” he informed Reuters.
