In recent weeks, the political situation in Catalonia has come under renewed pressure. The return of Carles Puigdemont, the former Catalan prime minister who had fled, has led to tensions in Catalonia. At the same time, Salvador Illa, the leader of the Catalan Socialist Party, has been appointed prime minister of the state.
Thursday started with one Great event At the Arc de Triomphe in Barcelona, Puigdemont presented himself to his supporters after seven years in Belgium. His return to Spain was an act of rebellion and a strategic move to revive the independence movement.
Puigdemont arrived at the square early in the morning surrounded by thousands of supporters who addressed him with slogans calling for independence. He stressed the importance of self-determination and encouraged his fans not to give up in their struggle for independence.
But after his speech, Puigdemont quickly disappeared from view. When he left the stage with his lawyer, authorities were unaware of his destination. This sparked speculation about his possible arrest and its implications for the inauguration of Salvador Illa. Tensions increased when it became clear that Puigdemont had once again escaped legal consequences.
As the situation around Puigdemont escalated, Operation Gola was launched by the Mossos d’Esquadra, the Catalan police. The aim of this operation was to capture Puigdemont before he could flee to France.
Police deployed a large number of officers on the streets of Barcelona and other locations in Catalonia. They checked vehicles and set up roadblocks to prevent Puigdemont from fleeing the country. However, Puigdemont managed to escape in a white Honda. The escape frustrated both police and the government, who wondered how the former prime minister could have escaped so easily.
Despite the turbulent situation surrounding Puigdemont, the assembly to inaugurate Salvador Illa took place. Tension was noticeable in parliament, as members prepared for a crucial vote.
The MPs arrived amid tight security while demonstrators protested outside. The presence of both Illa’s supporters and opponents created a tense atmosphere. The question was whether the vote on his installation would go ahead, given the unstable situation surrounding Puigdemont.
Finally, the vote came, and Ella was elected the new chief minister of the state. However, his victory was overshadowed by the events of the day, which called into question the legitimacy of his leadership. Reactions from other political parties were mixed, with both support and criticism of Ella’s approach.
