- New beginning in Catalonia: Illa sworn in as head of government
Socialist politician Salvador Illa was inaugurated as Catalan President in a ceremonial event at the Government Palace in Barcelona. "By assuming office today, I inherit the hopes of the Catalan people," said the 61-year-old, who gained recognition as Spain's Health Minister during the COVID-19 pandemic. While his socialist party remained the strongest in the early election in May, it needs the support of the left-wing, pro-independence ERC party and the left-wing ecological coalition Comuns to govern.
Illa received 68 out of 135 votes from regional parliamentarians in Barcelona on Thursday. Spanish media hailed his election as a fresh start for the region, which has been shaken by independence demands for over a decade. However, it may prove challenging for the calm and conciliatory Illa to reconcile his pro-Spanish policies with the independence aspirations of ERC.
In his inaugural speech, Illa echoed his separatist predecessors, stating, "I have no doubt that all previous presidents have started with the best intentions to make Catalonia a better place," even including the former regional leader Carles Puigdemont, who is still at large with an arrest warrant.
Puigdemont appeared in Barcelona's parliament for the first time in nearly seven years on Thursday, just before Illa's election. He delivered a brief speech to around 3,500 supporters, reiterating his arguments for Catalan independence, even if it means defying the rest of Spain. He then disappeared from the scene.
Later, on Friday evening, Puigdemont reappeared on the X platform, stating he was back in Belgium, where he has lived most of the time since his exile in 2017. It remains unknown whether and when the arrest warrant for alleged personal enrichment in Spain will be lifted, allowing Puigdemont to return to his homeland. Illa urged the Spanish justice system to swiftly apply the amnesty law for Catalan separatists like Puigdemont without delay.
The following developments occurred after Illa's election: Puigdemont, a prominent separatist figure, appeared in parliament for the first time in years, delivering a speech in favor of Catalan independence. Moreover, Illa called upon the Spanish justice system to promptly implement an amnesty law for Catalan separatists like Puigdemont.
