Police Search for Former Catalan Separatist Leader Following Unexpected Return from Exile

Police in Barcelona are actively searching for Carles Puigdemont, the former leader of Catalonia, who made a dramatic return to Spain after seven years in exile. Despite facing an outstanding arrest warrant, Puigdemont reappeared in Barcelona and briefly addressed supporters before vanishing.
The Catalan police, Mossos d’Esquadra, initiated Operation Jaula, setting up roadblocks in and around Barcelona to locate Puigdemont. However, the operation was called off after a few hours, and Puigdemont’s current whereabouts remain unknown.
Puigdemont had been living in Brussels since fleeing Spain in 2017 following his involvement in a controversial bid for Catalan independence. At that time, a referendum he organized was deemed illegal by Spain’s constitutional court, leading to Madrid imposing direct rule over Catalonia.
On Thursday morning, Puigdemont spoke to hundreds of supporters near the Catalan parliament, declaring “Long live a free Catalonia!” and asserting that holding a referendum is not a crime. He then disappeared before the expected investiture of a new Catalan leader.
Allegedly, Puigdemont escaped in a car owned by a Catalan police officer, who has since been detained, along with a second officer. Roadblocks were briefly established around Barcelona and in La Jonquera, a municipality on the border with France, but Puigdemont evaded capture.
Puigdemont’s return is seen as a strategic move to challenge the Spanish authorities and to assert his influence within the pro-independence movement. His return also aims to pressure the government to apply the new amnesty law, which had previously excluded him. Additionally, Puigdemont’s actions disrupt the investiture of Socialist Salvador Illa, who is set to become Catalonia’s first non-nationalist leader since 2010.
Critics, including Puigdemont’s allies and far-right opponents, have voiced strong opinions about the police operation and the implications of Puigdemont’s return