Former Catalan leader, Carles Puigdemont, made a daring escape from Spain after briefly returning to address supporters. The Mossos d’Esquadra police force attempted to arrest him but were thwarted by a group of supporters who blocked their path. Despite the failure to capture Puigdemont, the hunt for him continues.
Puigdemont faces charges of embezzlement for the cost of the 2017 independence referendum, which was deemed illegal by Spanish courts. Meanwhile, political tensions rise in Spain as conservative opponents criticize the Socialist government for granting amnesty to Catalan separatists in exchange for support.
The Junts party, which had supported the government, is now reconsidering its position due to the Supreme Court’s ruling that the amnesty law does not apply to Puigdemont and two others. The opposition People’s Party has called for the dismissal of interior and defense ministers over the escape.
The dramatic escape of Puigdemont has fueled further political instability in Spain as recriminations mount over the failure to detain him. The consequences of this event are far-reaching, and the Spanish government is now faced with the challenge of navigating through this volatile situation.