Politico reports that Spain scoured sewers in their search for a separatist leader. Learn more about this unusual investigation.
Authorities have not been able to catch exiled Catalan politician Carles Puigdemont.
Despite heightened security measures undertaken by police in Barcelona to locate him, Carles Puigdemont has come out of his seven-year self-imposed exile to disrupt the election process for Catalonia’s new president.
In 2017, when Puigdemont declared independence for Catalonia without consulting anyone, he was serving as the region’s president. The Spanish government swiftly reacted by removing him from office and issuing a warrant that led to his detention. As a result of this imminent danger, he fled to Belgium in order to escape possible imprisonment.
After months of negotiations with separatist ERC party, the Catalan parliament assembled on Thursday to confirm Salvador Illa’s election as a Socialist Party candidate. However, Puigdemont stole the spotlight by delivering a brief televised speech outside the parliamentary building prior to proceedings flaring up.
“I must be present, and I desire to do so. Hence, I am commencing my journey back from exile,” Puigdemont declared on X (formerly Twitter) during Wednesday’s statement.
Surprising both the police and media, he chose to perform his stunt outside of the parliament instead of attempting entry. To prevent unauthorized access into Parc de la Ciutadella where the building resides, authorities sealed off all but a single entrance and thoroughly screened entrants prior to granting admission.
Not only did Puigdemont deliver a speech outside, but he also managed to vanish and avoid arrest. La Vanguardia reported that two Catalan police officers were apprehended for allegedly aiding the separatist leader’s escape.
During the earlier part of the day, Mossos d’Esquadra – otherwise known as the police force in charge of Catalonia’s autonomous region- thoroughly combed through every room within Parliament. Politico EU reports that they even inspected underground locations such as basements and sewers before closing off access from Barcelona Zoo to prevent any potential escapes.
In June, Puigdemont opted out of participating in the European Parliament elections to vie for Catalan presidency again. However, he was defeated by Illa during the vote. Last week, the Socialist reached an agreement with separatists and formed a minority government.
Last year, Pedro Sanchez, the Prime Minister of Spain successfully quelled Catalan separatists by enacting a comprehensive amnesty law. However, this led to significant opposition in Madrid who organized large-scale demonstrations.
