The Parliament of Catalonia will begin its session today regarding the appointment of the new Prime Minister Salvador Illa, but all the attention of the public was stolen by the former leader of Catalonia, Carles Puigdemont.
The former Catalan leader appeared in Barcelona seven years after fleeing, and was greeted by 2,500 people at the entrance of the Parliament of Catalonia.
“For seven years they persecuted us because we wanted to listen to the voice of the people of Catalonia. Many years ago, this very harsh repression began. They created an atmosphere that being Catalan is a dubious thing. We are still here,” Puigdemont said.
He said that the victory in the referendum on the independence of Catalonia in 2017 meant cruel repression.
“We are not interested in being in a country where the amnesty laws do not provide for amnesty,” Puigdemont said and received applause from many supporters for his speech.
Puigdemont also had a message for all supporters.
“I don’t know when we will see each other again. When we do, we can all shout together the words with which I will end my speech: ‘Visca Catalunya livre’,” said Puigdemont, which translates to “Long live free Catalonia.”
Alongside numerous pro-independence flags and T-shirts with various slogans, the crowd chanted pro-independence slogans or “Puigdemont, our president”.
What is interesting is that Puigdemont did not enter the Parliament of Catalonia but literally disappeared into the crowd after the speech.
Puigdemont has previously said he is aware of the risk of detention on his return, but that returning is his last chance to prevent the formation of a pro-Spanish government in Catalonia, which is poised to take power this week.
The autonomous police force in Catalonia, Los Mossos, launched an operation around the parliament building itself, and the Spanish media announce that the goal is to arrest Puigdemont, Klix.ba writes.
