POLICE are on the hunt for ex-Catalan president Carles Puigdemont following his return to Spain after seven years in exile.
On Wednesday, Puigdemont announced that he intended to be present at the investiture ceremony of the new president at the Parliament of Catalonia in Barcelona on Thursday.
This is despite the fact that an outstanding warrant for his arrest remains active.
Last year, Spain’s parliament passed an amnesty law for those charged with crimes relating to the 2017 Catalan independence referendum.
#ÚltimaHora Carles Puigdemont arriba al passeig Lluís Companys a peu i envoltat d'un cordó humà després de 7 anys d'exili #investidura3Cathttps://t.co/pym7uRMaKJ pic.twitter.com/zBIYjGr1HH
— Catalunya Informació (@Catinformacio) August 8, 2024
However, the country’s Supreme Court has refused to apply the law to Puigdemont.
Still, on Thursday morning Puigdemont defiantly appeared in Barcelona and was greeted by large crowds after travelling from Belgium.
Several thousand pro-independence supporters had gathered in a central park in Barcelona to welcome Puigdemont, who punched the air to rapturous applause and stated: "Holding a referendum is not and will never be a crime."
But Puigdemont disappeared soon after the appearance, with Spanish media reporting that police have launched an operation to locate and arrest the politician.
READ MORE: Police search sewers as Carles Puigdemont vows return to Spain
It is unclear how authorities would proceed if Puigdemont is arrested given the ongoing dispute about the application of the amnesty law between the Spanish parliament and the Supreme Court.
A security ring has been placed around the Parliament of Catalonia, with police reportedly searching sewers and basements ahead of the swearing in of Salvador Illa of the Socialists’ Party of Catalonia, who eventually emerged victorious after May’s elections which led to months of deadlock between Illa’s party and Esquerra Republicana.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here