Catalan separatist Puigdemont faces arrest as supporters cheer his return

8/8/2024 16:21

        Defying an arrest warrant against him, former Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont appeared in the Spanish city of Barcelona on Thursday after seven years of self-imposed exile, as he sought to reignite a flagging independence movement.
        
        Puigdemont spoke to a crowd of thousands of followers in the Catalan capital, who had gathered near the regional parliament, waving Catalan independence flags and holding up signs showing his face.
        
        The politician, 61, fled to Belgium seven years ago after a failed secession bid and has been living in exile ever since. He is now likely to be detained over an outstanding arrest warrant for alleged embezzlement, which he denies.
        
        On Wednesday, Puigdemont announced he had started his "return trip from exile", saying he remained committed to attending Thursday's session of the regional parliament, which is sitting to swear in the region's new leader following an election in May, in which Puigdemont's Junts party finished second.