Carles Puigdemont marks his 63rd birthday today, still outside of Spain. For the ninth consecutive year, the former head of the Generalitat has been unable to return to Catalonia, which he left in 2017 to avoid arrest. Despite the adoption of the amnesty law and changes in the political landscape, his return remains shrouded in uncertainty. This year, the situation is further complicated by Junts per Catalunya officially ending their cooperation with the Socialists, and Puigdemont himself not tying his plans to party decisions. His inner circle says there is still hope for a return this spring, but no concrete dates are given—the disappointment of unfulfilled expectations has been felt too many times.
Since stepping down from the European Parliament a year and a half ago, Puigdemont has focused on his political work from Waterloo, Belgium. He regularly meets with business figures, civic organizations, and politicians to keep informed about developments in Catalonia and Spain. One of his most recent visitors was Arnaldo Otegi, leader of EH Bildu, who came shortly before Christmas. Despite the distance, Puigdemont continues to shape the region’s political agenda.
Political distance
In the summer of 2024, Puigdemont made a brief appearance in Barcelona to speak at a rally on the day of Salvador Illa’s inauguration. However, due to heightened security measures, he was forced to leave the city quickly. The Catalan independence process is currently on hold, and Junts believes that the Socialists will try to use this to present themselves as the party that restored stability to the region. Pedro Sánchez is expected to take new steps to resume dialogue with Junts, although the gap between the parties is only widening for now.
In recent months, the government has fast-tracked the multiple-offenses bill and drafted a decree to ease budgetary restrictions—both among Junts’ key demands. Additionally, the introduction of the Verifactu system to monitor invoices has been postponed, which was also significant for businesses and the self-employed.
Possible scenarios
Puigdemont’s circle believes that returning to Catalonia would be easier under the Socialists than with a Partido Popular government, since the latter depends on far-right support. Some business representatives think that Puigdemont’s presence in the region could help normalize political relations. For instance, Foment del Treball head Josep Sánchez Llibre expressed confidence that Puigdemont will return in the coming months and help stabilize the situation.
Junts believes that once Puigdemont returns, he will be able to act more freely and effectively than now, when he leads the opposition from abroad. The party is confident that his presence in Catalonia will strengthen Junts’ position and open new opportunities for building relationships with other political forces.
Public reaction
A recent incident in Badalona, where 400 homeless people were evicted, sparked a strong response across Catalonia. The city’s mayor from the Partido Popular, Xavier García Albiol, faced criticism, while Puigdemont and Salvador Illa actively commented on the situation on social media and in public statements. The far-right leader in Catalonia also weighed in, accusing Puigdemont of populism.
For now, political uncertainty remains, and Puigdemont’s return continues to spark debate and speculation. Catalan society is closely watching each step of the former president, wondering how his possible comeback might affect the region’s future.
