Catalan Separatist Leader Puigdemont Evades Arrest in Barcelona Rally

Carles Puigdemont made a surprising appearance at a rally in central Barcelona despite an ongoing arrest warrant in Spain before returning to Belgium. Puigdemont, who led Catalonia’s failed 2017 secession bid, faces embezzlement charges but maintains the referendum was legal. Security concerns prevented his attendance at a regional parliament vote.

Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont returned to Belgium following a surprising appearance at a rally in central Barcelona, despite an outstanding arrest warrant, as stated by his party's general secretary on Friday.

Jordi Turull told RAC1 radio that he was uncertain if Puigdemont had reached his Waterloo home, where he has resided for seven years since the failed 2017 bid for Catalonia’s secession. Charged with embezzlement related to a 2017 referendum ruled illegal by Spanish courts, Puigdemont maintains that the vote was legal and rejects the charges. “He did not come to be arrested in Spain but to exercise his political rights,” Turull said, adding that Puigdemont had planned to attend an investiture vote for a new Catalonian leader.

Due to security concerns, Puigdemont left the rally in a car rather than walking to parliament, believing he would not be allowed entry, Turull explained. He also avoided providing an opportunity for his arrest to be photographed. Turull, imprisoned from 2018 to 2021 over rebellion, sedition, and embezzlement charges linked to the independence referendum and later pardoned, has been serving as the general secretary of Puigdemont's Junts party since June 2022.