He arrived, spoke and disappeared (leaving no trace), while two policemen were arrested: It was Puigdemont’s return. The Catalan authorities had organized a major operation, but were betrayed by an agent who had lent a car to the independence fighter.

Catalan police have resumed Operation Cage, which aims to arrest independence activist Carles Puigdemont, after the police operation was interrupted for more than two hours, according to Spanish media reports.

Before that there were almost four hours of border and road control, but unsuccessful. After the operation there was Mossos d’Esquadra agent arrested for borrowing getaway car from Catalan.

Although the police do not know the whereabouts of the Catalan, they know that he is hiding in a white Honda.

According to El MundoAnother police officer was arrested and accused of participating in Puigdemont’s escape plan.

The police, first surprised by the escape and then allegedly betrayed by one of their own, were unable to stop the politician, who was in full view, talking and walking with a crowd of supporters.

However, given the rumours that had emerged, the police denied having had a prior agreement with Puigdemont. The Mossos said they were acting to protect the interests of citizens and prevent public disorder.

After Albert Batet of Junts claimed that Jordi Turull, a former MP for the Independence Party, had received an arrest warrant, police sources assured that this was not true.

In fact, Turull was forced to testify on suspicion of complicity in Puigdemont’s escape.

How it all happened:

He arrived in Barcelona early. It was just a few minutes before 9am in the neighbouring country (8am in Portugal) when he appeared on Boulevard Lluís Companys to cries of “President” and “Independence”.

Hundreds of protesters celebrated the return of Puigdemont, who had been a fugitive from Spain for seven years. He soon began speaking out under the watchful eye of former and current figures in the Catalan parliament and the Junta party he founded.

“We are already here. I am already here. We will not resign, we cannot give up the right to self-determination,” the independence leader, who has lived in exile since he organized a separatist referendum in 2017 that was declared illegal, declared to the delight of the pro-independence crowd.
“We are not interested in ending up in a country where the Amnesty Law does not provide for amnesty,” he said, referring to the amnesty law agreed by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

The human shield that accompanied him the rest of the way 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

After his disappearance, several theories emerged about his plan: that he was going to surrender, that he was going to enter Parliament through another door, or that he was going to return to exile. Since his whereabouts were unknown, the latter hypothesis began to take shape.

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.”

The quick reaction of the parties contrasts with the complete silence of the PSOE, which has not yet spoken out.