In Catalonia, another scandal is erupting around the family of former Generalitat president Jordi Pujol. His son, Oriol Pujol (Oriol Pujol Ferrusola), announced that despite his advanced age and worsening health, his father intends to personally participate in the trial regarding the long-term storage of a large fortune in Andorran banks. The hearings will begin at the Audiencia Nacional at the end of November and could last for half a year.
The Pujol family is accused of forming a criminal organization and money laundering. Investigators allege that Jordi Pujol Ferrusola, the eldest son, received illicit commissions for allocating public contracts during the time his father governed Catalonia. Oriol, the only child to follow his father into politics, is confident the charges won’t hold up in court and insists the evidence is too weak.
The question of the former president’s health has become central ahead of the proceedings. The family has submitted medical reports for experts to assess whether 95-year-old Pujol is capable of standing trial. Despite his age and frailty, he remains mentally sharp and is not seeking to evade responsibility. However, his lawyers insist that his testimony be given remotely, as traveling to Madrid could endanger his life.
A scandal that has shaken Catalonia
The story began back in 2014, when Jordi Pujol publicly admitted that his family had been hiding large sums of money from tax authorities for many years by placing them in Andorran banks. This confession shocked Catalan society and dealt a serious blow to the reputation of a once-respected politician. Since then, the case has sparked numerous rumors and accusations against law enforcement, who, according to the family, acted with a clear political agenda.
Oriol Pujol claims that the investigation was marred by numerous violations and pressure from the so-called ‘patriotic police.’ He draws special attention to the role of his older brother’s former girlfriend who, he says, was compensated for her testimony, though she will not appear in court.
Impact on society and politics
Despite the scandal, public perception of Jordi Pujol in Catalonia has shifted in recent years. Recently, the current head of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, received him, which many saw as an attempt to restore historical justice and acknowledge Pujol’s contribution to the region’s development. Oriol believes that most Catalans now understand the true reasons behind what happened and do not see his father as the primary culprit.
The trial of the Pujol family is set to become one of the most high-profile cases in modern Spanish history. The spotlight on this case stems not only from the scale of the accusations, but also from the political context surrounding it. In the coming months, the nation will closely follow developments that could reshape how an entire era of Catalan politics is perceived.
