Opponent of secession becomes head of government in Catalonia
Spanish media speaks of a historic election: With a narrow majority, the Catalan regional parliament elects Salvador Illa as president. But another man is causing a stir in Barcelona today: Carles Puigdemont came, saw, and disappeared.
Socialist Salvador Illa has been elected president of Catalonia. The 58-year-old opposes the secession of the wealthy region in northeastern Spain. 68 members of the Barcelona regional parliament voted for Illa, 67 against him. Illa secured the support of the left-wing, moderate-separatist party ERC with promises of financial concessions and strengthening the Catalan language.
Spanish newspapers wrote about a historic election that opens a new future for the troubled region. However, the most attention was drawn to the most prominent representative of the radical separatists, Carles Puigdemont. He appeared in the center of Barcelona in the morning after nearly seven years in exile, surrounded by leading politicians of his party Junts, walking through the streets unmolested and greeting passersby.
The police, who were present with strong security forces, did not intervene despite an arrest warrant for the 61-year-old. Puigdemont had fled the country secretly in a car after an illegal independence referendum in 2017 and the subsequent failed secession.
Puigdemont then gave a short speech to several thousand supporters near the parliament, who wanted to give him an "institutional welcome". "I have come here today to remind you that we are still here, we are still here because we have no right to give up," he said in a combative tone, referring to his fight for the independence of Catalonia, which he wants to achieve even against the will and in conflict with the central government. "We have no interest in living in a country where amnesty laws do not amnesty," Puigdemont added, criticizing parts of the judiciary that refuse to apply the amnesty for separatists passed by the central parliament in Madrid to him.
Police as getaway helpers?
Shortly afterwards, the session to elect Illa began in the parliament. Puigdemont had repeatedly announced that he wanted to participate in this session at all costs. It was his democratic right as an elected member, he had said in a video message published on the platform X the day before. But instead of going to the parliament after his speech, as the police might have expected, he was quickly pulled behind the stage by his lawyer and has not been seen since. The newspapers "El País" and "La Vanguardia" reported that two police officers were arrested as suspected getaway helpers.
While the police, according to media reports, focused on preventing Puigdemont from entering the parliament and even checked tunnels under the parliamentary building, Puigdemont apparently drove away undetected in a white car belonging to the later arrested policeman.
When the police realized that Puigdemont had slipped away, they launched a massive manhunt codenamed "Cage". Roadblocks were set up on major exit roads from the Mediterranean metropolis, with police checking every vehicle leaving the city, as shown on the state TV channel RTVE. In some cases, trunk spaces were inspected, and motorcyclists were asked to remove their helmets. Even at the French border, they searched for Puigdemont in case he tried to flee the country again. Thousands of vehicles were stuck in kilometer-long traffic jams in the summer heat.
The responsible security forces had prepared for all possible scenarios, except for another escape by Puigdemont, who had voluntarily returned to Spain, according to "La Vanguardia" citing police sources. All members of the Catalan police unit Mossos d'Esquadra, responsible for Puigdemont's arrest, were reportedly shocked by the failure.
Significant Victory for Sánchez
Despite an amnesty law for separatists, there is still an arrest warrant for Puigdemont due to the controversial interpretation of the law by investigating judge Pablo Llarena. The amnesty law excludes cases of personal enrichment from pardon. Although Puigdemont is not accused of embezzling public funds, the judge accuses him of personal enrichment. He argues that Puigdemont used public funds instead of his own for his illegal political goals during the 2017 independence referendum, which he considers equivalent to personal enrichment. The legal clarification of this dispute could take months.
Illa's party emerged as the strongest force from the early election in May. However, governing with a party that wants to lead Catalonia to independence might be challenging. Despite this, for Spain's socialist prime minister Pedro Sánchez, who wants to ease the Catalan conflict through concessions and dialogue, Illa's election is still a significant victory. However, he also relies on the votes of Junts in the central parliament. The conservative opposition and right-wing parties continue to criticize his policies, accusing him once again of driving Spain into the abyss.
The Commission has acknowledged the role of the police in the incident involving Carles Puigdemont's disappearance after his speech. Despite an arrest warrant, the police did not intervene, and two officers are suspected of assisting Puigdemont's escape.
The Commission has expressed its support for the newly elected president, Salvador Illa, whose opposition to Catalonia's secession aligns with the government's policy of dialogue and concessions to resolve the conflict.
