Former Catalan Generalitat leader Jordi Pujol has returned home to Barcelona after spending several days at the Sagrada Família clinic. The 95-year-old politician was hospitalized due to pneumonia, but by midday he was discharged from the medical facility. Pujol was taken to his home on Ronda General Mitre, entering the building via the parking lot to avoid drawing attention.
The discharge came just three days before a National Court (Audiencia Nacional) hearing on the Pujol Ferrusola family case, which will focus on the origins of their fortune in Andorra. Given the former Catalan leader’s age and frail health, he will participate remotely. The court has scheduled a videoconference where Pujol must appear alongside forensic doctors to confirm the assessment of his inability to testify.
Doubts over ability to stand trial
Pujol’s lawyers are demanding the case against their client be dropped, citing a significant decline in both his physical and mental health. According to them, experts who examined Pujol concluded that his cognitive functions have irreversibly deteriorated and his progressive illness is untreatable.
Lawyers argue that in his current state, Pujol is unable to fully participate in the trial. He cannot understand the charges against him or defend his interests independently. For this reason, the defense is demanding that the court drop the proceedings against the former politician, as he cannot properly fulfill the role of the defendant.
The Pujol Family and the Andorra Capital Case
The trial, set to begin in the coming days, involves not only Jordi Pujol himself but also other members of his family. Investigators suspect them of hiding substantial sums in Andorran bank accounts. The legality of these funds’ origins remains unclear, and public interest in the case shows no signs of waning.
It is still uncertain how Pujol’s involvement in the hearings will unfold. The court must decide whether the medical reports are convincing enough to exempt him from responsibility. At the same time, the fate of the other defendants remains in question, and the case promises to be highly publicized.
Future of the Trial in Jeopardy
In the near future, the National Court is expected to consider the defense’s request to dismiss the case against Pujol. If the court finds that the former head of Catalonia’s health condition truly prevents him from participating in the proceedings, the trial may be suspended or closed for him personally.
Meanwhile, public interest in the Pujol family case remains strong. The public and the media continue to follow developments closely, awaiting new details about the fate of one of Catalonia’s most prominent political dynasties.
