Last Friday, the head of the Generalitat of Catalonia, Salvador Illa, held a private meeting with former president of the region Jordi Pujol. The conversation took place at the Palau de Pedralbes in Barcelona. Illa visited to inquire about Pujol’s health, as the former president has recently been back in the spotlight due to an ongoing court case.
The meeting took place right after Illa returned from an official trip to Mexico and attended a parliamentary control session. This is the second time in recent months that the two politicians have spoken in person. Notably, now that the trial against Pujol and his family has gained momentum again, details of their conversation have become public.
The Court Case
Jordi Pujol, who recently turned 95, is facing charges of forming a criminal organization and money laundering. Medical experts had previously recommended that he not appear in court due to declining cognitive functions. However, the court rejected these arguments and insisted on his participation, at least in the initial part of the hearings, which took place remotely at the end of June.
Shortly before the proceedings began, Pujol was hospitalized for five days with pneumonia at the Sagrada Familia clinic in Barcelona. He was discharged just three days before the trial started. Salvador Illa publicly called on the court to take the former president’s age and health into account, stressing that the judicial system has tools to address such situations.
Political context
The meeting at Pedralbes took place shortly after Illa returned from Mexico, where he had traveled amid the crisis caused by African swine fever. The Catalan government points out that the president of the autonomous region regularly holds meetings at both official residences, and the choice of the Pedralbes Palace was not intended to ensure confidentiality.
Salvador Illa had previously met with Pujol in September 2024, shortly after his inauguration. That meeting was surprising, as the previous four Catalan leaders, who supported independence, had also received Pujol. Following the scandal over foreign accounts, the Catalan parliament stripped Pujol of all honorary titles.
Reaction and consequences
The second meeting between Illa and Pujol was part of a series of consultations with former leaders of the autonomous region. Notably, Carles Puigdemont was excluded from this circle; Illa visited him in Brussels only a year after taking office. Catalan authorities emphasize that such meetings are part of an ongoing dialogue between generations of politicians, despite differences and scandals.
Debate continues within society over whether it is appropriate to prosecute an elderly politician with serious health issues. Nevertheless, the trial is ongoing, and public attention to Pujol remains high. His role in the region’s history continues to be discussed by both supporters and critics alike.
Jordi Pujol served as President of the Generalitat of Catalonia from 1980 to 2003 and is regarded as one of the key figures in the region’s modern history. After leaving office, his name became linked to a high-profile corruption scandal, resulting in the loss of official honors. Salvador Illa, the current head of the Catalan government, previously led Spain’s Ministry of Health and is known for his moderate stance on issues of autonomy.
