Carles Puigdemont Returns to Spain After Exile

Carles Puigdemont, the former President of Catalonia, made a significant return to Spain after seven years in self-imposed exile, despite facing an outstanding arrest warrant for his role in the illegal 2017 independence referendum. Upon his arrival in Barcelona, he addressed a rally of approximately 10,000 supporters, declaring his intention to participate in the regional parliamentary vote for a new president. Following his speech, Puigdemont mysteriously evaded arrest, prompting the Catalan police to initiate a large-scale operation, dubbed 'Operation Cage,' to locate him, which was later suspended due to the chaos it caused in the city. Authorities suspect Puigdemont used a police officer's vehicle to escape the scene, and clashes erupted between his supporters and police during the unrest. His return comes as Catalonia prepares for the election of its first non-separatist leader in over a decade, amidst a backdrop of tensions regarding the amnesty law passed for other separatist leaders. Puigdemont's reappearance and subsequent evasion have reignited discussions around Catalan separatism and his long-standing legal challenges.