Catalonia's fugitive separatist leader Carles Puigdemont to return to Spain

The former president of Catalonia and MEP faces immediate arrest if he returns to the country he fled in October 2017.

Transcript

00:00After years avoiding the Spanish justice system, former president of Catalonia, Carles Puigdemont,

00:07has announced he intends to return to Spain.

00:10The separatist leader posted a letter on social media platform X, stating that after seven

00:15years in exile in Belgium and France, he would return to his homeland imminently to, quote,

00:20defend against Spanish repression.

00:23The decision carries great personal risk for the former member of European Parliament,

00:28who faces immediate arrest if he returns to the country he fled in October 2017.

00:35Puigdemont travelled to Belgium three days after the failed Catalan declaration of independence

00:39that month to avoid prison.

00:42He was dismissed as president of the regional assembly and faced charges for rebellion,

00:48sedition and embezzlement.

00:50In the letter, Puigdemont says he is aware of the risk of being detained once he returns.

00:56But he underlines that it is his last option to try and avoid a pro-Spanish regional government

01:01in Catalonia, which is set to take over this week after a vote in regional parliament.