Exiled Catalan Leader Puigdemont's Brief Return Sparks Manhunt in Spain

Carles Puigdemont, the exiled Catalan separatist leader, briefly resurfaced in Spain on August 8, 2024, sparking a manhunt and reigniting tensions between Catalan independence supporters and the Spanish government. The former president of Catalonia, who has been living in self-imposed exile since 2017, made a surprise appearance at a rally in Barcelona before evading arrest and reportedly fleeing back to Belgium.

Jordi Turull, secretary general of the Together for Catalonia party (Junts), confirmed on August 9 that Puigdemont had left Spain. However, Catalan regional police chief Eduard Sallent stated that they could not rule out the possibility of Puigdemont still being in the country, prompting continued search efforts.

Puigdemont's unexpected return to Spain came seven years after he organized an unauthorized independence referendum in Catalonia. Born on December 29, 1962, in Amer, Catalonia, Puigdemont began his career as a journalist before entering politics. He served as the Mayor of Girona from 2011 to 2016 before becoming the President of Catalonia on January 10, 2016.

The 2017 Catalan independence referendum, held on October 1, was declared illegal by Spain's Constitutional Court. In response to the referendum, the Spanish government imposed direct rule on Catalonia, leading to Puigdemont's flight to Belgium on October 30, 2017. Since then, he has primarily resided outside of Spain, evading Spanish authorities' attempts to arrest him.

Puigdemont's brief reappearance in Barcelona posed a significant challenge to Spanish authorities and threatened to renew tensions between Catalan separatists and Madrid. The incident occurred against the backdrop of a contentious amnesty deal struck last year between Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's Socialist Party and separatists, aimed at maintaining power and forming a coalition government.

Despite the amnesty legislation, Puigdemont still faces potential arrest in Spain on charges of embezzlement, although sedition charges against him have been dropped. His political career has centered on the aspiration for independence of Catalonia, a wealthy northeastern region with a population of about 7.5 million people and a long history of autonomy movements dating back to the 19th century.

"[His supporters] want us to believe that he is in Belgium. Until we have evidence, we will keep looking for him."

The drama surrounding Puigdemont's return and escape, including a live broadcast of the police chase, has thrust him back into the spotlight. However, it did not prevent the parliamentary session from proceeding, during which Salvador Illa, a Socialist who brokered a deal with the region's other main separatist party, was sworn in as the new regional president. This marks the first non-separatist leader of Catalonia in about a decade.

Puigdemont's actions have drawn criticism from Spanish opposition politicians, who described the incident as an "unbearable humiliation" and "a farce." The event has also highlighted the ongoing complexities of the Catalan independence movement and its impact on Spanish politics.

As the search for Puigdemont continues, the incident serves as a reminder of the unresolved tensions between Catalonia and the central government in Madrid. The Catalan issue remains one of the most contentious in Spanish politics, with the Spanish Constitution of 1978 recognizing Catalonia as an autonomous community while maintaining the unity of the Spanish state.