According to Spanish media reports, Catalan police have launched a “prison operation” aimed at detaining independence supporter Carles Puigdemont. Following the operation, a Mossos d’Escadre agent was arrested for borrowing the car in which the Catalan escaped.
Although the police do not know the whereabouts of the Catalan, they know that he is hiding in a white Honda. The borders with France are monitored with particular attention.
The politician’s escape left police baffled as they had hoped to arrest Puigdemont before he entered the Catalan parliament, which never happened.
Catalan addresses crowd
The Catalan was addressing a large crowd that disappeared after communicating with supporters of the separatist movement.
Puigdemont reportedly headed towards parliament as soon as he left the stage where he spoke. Along the way, he was surrounded by people, including some leaders of the Juntas de Catalunya party he founded.
The human shield was supposed to prevent him from being detained by the Catalan police Mossos d’Esquadra. However, despite his expected presence in parliament, Puigdemont suddenly disappeared.
Theories Motivated by Disappearance
Since his disappearance, several theories have emerged about his plan: he would surrender, enter Parliament through a different door, or return to exile.
Puigdemont chose this day to return because it is Thursday The investment session of the new regional government will take place in the Catalan Parliament.
The Catalan leader returned to Spain on Thursday after more than seven years. Puigdemont, who has been living in Belgium since 2017, is wanted by the Spanish justice system for embezzlement.
Reactions
Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of the PP, the main opposition party to Pedro Sánchez’s government, pointed to the Socialist leader as “most responsible” for the “unbearable humiliation” of Puigdemont’s appearance and escape.
“An unbearable humiliation. Another one. It’s painful to watch this nonsense in person, for which Pedro Sanchez is most responsible. It’s unforgivable to tarnish Spain’s image in this way,” Feijóo wrote.
A spokesman for the People’s Party (PP) called government leader Pedro Sánchez “the only one responsible” for Puigdemont’s reappearance. “Shame, outrage,” wrote Alicia García.
Vox secretary general Ignacio Garriga has also focused criticism on Sanchez, whom he accuses of allowing Spain to be “humiliated” at Puigdemont’s “rally” outside the Catalan parliament without being detained.
“We are witnessing a democratic anomaly. Seeing a criminal evading justice who held a rally just a few meters from the parliament, with the passivity of a government that has once again shown that it puts personal interests above the pride of the people of the country,” he added.
“Ultra-Catholic” Spanish band “Hazte Oír” [Faz-te ouvir, em português] announced that he would condemn Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlasca, Generalitat President Pere Aragonés and Mosso d’Escadre chief Ignasi Elena “for failing to fulfill their duties to prosecute criminals.”