Exiled Catalan Leader Set To Return; Could Be Too Late To Run For Office

Catalan News reporting that exiled former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont is ready to return to Spain, having lived in exile in Belgium since 2017 following an illegal independence referendum. The calling of a snap election for the Catalan parliament is seen as a key factor spurring Puigdemont's intent to return.

• However, there are several factors that could scupper any bid to return to frontline politics in Catalonia. The election has been called for 12 May by President Pere Aragones following the rejection of the 2024 budget.
• Puigdemont will only be allowed to return to Spain without facing arrest with the implementation of amnesty legislation for those involved in the 2017 referendum. The Congress of Deputies passed the bill earlier this week.
• However, it now has to go to the Senate where the conservative, anti-independence Popular Party (PP) holds a majority. As such, the bill will likely be rejected. It will then return to the Congress for a final vote, but this is not likely to take place until late May/June.
• As such, the amnesty would not be law if Puigdemont sought to return to Catalonia to run for office in the 12 May election, and therefore he would risk arrest.
• Puigdemont's lawyer Gonzalo Boye accused other parties of "coordinating" the election date to obstruct Puigdemont from running. Aragones hails from the centre-left, pro-independence Republican Left Of Catalonia which while having the same overarching aim as the Junts party formerly led by Puidgemont, is nonetheless seen as a political rival.