Former Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont defied an arrest warrant and appeared at a rally on Thursday after seven years of self-imposed exile, before reportedly escaping with a car belonging to a regional police officer.
Amid a heavy police presence, Puigdemont addressed a crowd of thousands in the Catalan capital, stating his intention to revive the independence movement that plunged Spain into political crisis in 2017.
“They thought they’d be celebrating my arrest and they thought that this punishment would dissuade us,” he said. “Well, they are wrong.”
Authorities suspect that, after finishing his speech, Puigdemont entered a white car belonging to a police officer and left the area, triggering a frantic search by authorities.
The regional police, known as the Mossos d’Esquadra, said two of its officers had been arrested as part of their investigation into Puigdemont’s whereabouts, including the owner of the car.
The separatist leader, 61, fled to Belgium seven years ago following a failed secession attempt and has been living in exile ever since.
He faces an arrest warrant for alleged embezzlement related to a 2017 independence referendum deemed illegal by the Spanish courts. Puigdemont maintains the vote was legal and therefore the charges linked to it are baseless.
A Mossos spokesman said there was no prior arrangement with Puigdemont for his arrest and the force had decided the detention should 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 pursuit of Puigdemont caused traffic chaos in Barcelona and near the border with France as police set up roadblocks and inspected car boots.
In Barcelona, several Puigdemont supporters clashed with police attempting to breach the cordon surrounding the park housing the regional parliament building. Officers in riot gear used batons and pepper spray to disperse them.
DETENTION ORDER
Reacting to news that Puigdemont had again evaded arrest despite a large police deployment, a Supreme Court source said a judge had been clear in his instructions that the former Catalan president was to be detained.
“The Mossos know that they have a detention order… they had the obligation to detain him and bring him before the courts,” the source said.
Two national police unions also criticized 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 said on X.
Two sources with links to the said it had identified a problem with some rogue Mossos, who appear to be loyal to Puigdemont.
A government spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment, nor did Puigdemont´s lawyer.
His arrest could jeopardize the Socialist-led national government´s fragile alliance with Puigdemont’s Junts party, on which it relies for legislative support.
Catalonia’s parliament on Thursday afternoon confirmed Salvador Illa, an ally of , as head of the Catalan government.
“I will govern for everyone having into account the plurality and diversity of Catalonia,” Illa said.
The Socialists hope taking control in Catalonia after a decade of separatist rule will turn the page on the independence movement.
The Spanish parliament passed an amnesty law in May pardoning those involved in the failed 2017 secession bid, but the Supreme Court upheld arrest warrants for Puigdemont and two others who were also charged with embezzlement, ruling that the amnesty law does not apply to them.
The crowd of thousands, who had gathered near the parliament to welcome him, hoped his return would help build momentum towards independence, which has lost support in recent years.
“It represents the return of a symbol,” said Xavier Vizcaino, 63, who was wrapped in an independence flag.
No-one had expected him to disappear again.
Former Barcelona Mayor Xavier Trias, who was present at the rally, marvelled at Puigdemont’s flight.
“It was magic,” he told Reuters.