The return of Carles Puigdemont and the legal situation in Catalonia
The return of Carles Puigdemont on the day the investiture debate is held in the Parliament of Catalonia is certain. This has been confirmed by the lawyer of the leader of Junts per Catalunya, Gonzalo Boye, who has stated that he has never shown concern about a possible arrest. After the publication of the amnesty law on Tuesday in the Official State Gazette (BOE), Judge Pablo Llarena confirmed that he maintains the arrest warrant against Carles Puigdemont, Toni Comín, Lluís Puig and Marta Rovira. Regarding the possibility that Puigdemont will be arrested upon returning to Catalonia and a situation similar to that of Clara Ponsatí will occur, detained and released within hours, Boye has indicated that it is most likely that he will not be detained and that any other scenario It would be an anomaly. In an interview on RAC1, he made it clear that they are prepared for any eventuality.
The actions of the judges
Boye has emphasized that Puigdemont has never fled Catalonia, having established residence in Brussels before there was a criminal case. He has expressed concern about the possibility that Judge Llarena will exclude the crime of embezzlement from the amnesty, even though he has stated that the law is clear and that the judge is biasedly interpreting Article 2 of the law. However, if the Supreme Court decides to exclude embezzlement from the amnesty, the corresponding appeals will be presented. Regarding the crime of terrorism, Boye has assured that if the judges exclude it from the amnesty, they will go to Europe, since the CJEU will make it clear that there has been no crime of terrorism. In any case, he has recommended that the Supreme Court prosecutors do a careful and complete reading of the amnesty law, and has added that the Venice Commission made it clear that embezzlement falls within the amnestiable acts.
Puigdemont’s return
Carles Puigdemont assured before the elections of March 12 that he would return to Catalonia for the investiture debate, a commitment that remains firm, according to several members of Junts per Catalunya. The secretary general, Jordi Turull, and the spokesperson of the party, Josep Rius, have affirmed that he maintains the commitment to be present at the investiture debate, even risking being arrested. Since the publication of the amnesty in the BOE and the Supreme Court’s warning to maintain the arrest warrant, Puigdemont has maintained absolute silence and has not made any statements either through social networks or in any interview.
