Gabriel Rufián has sharply criticized Carles Puigdemont for marking two years since his brief return and escape from Barcelona. The dispute has reignited tensions between Junts and ERC. The conflict comes as political divisions deepen in Catalonia.
Sharp political conflict has erupted in Catalonia after Gabriel Rufián, spokesperson for ERC in the Congress of Deputies, publicly criticized Carles Puigdemont for commemorating the second anniversary of his brief return and subsequent escape from Barcelona. Rufián described Puigdemont’s actions as “ridiculous” and “frivolous,” sparking a new round of heated exchanges between Junts and ERC at a time when the Catalan independence movement faces growing internal divisions.
The controversy centers on Puigdemont’s decision to highlight the anniversary of his covert entry into Barcelona two years ago, just before the investiture session for Salvador Illa as president. Puigdemont, who remains outside Spain, published an unpublished photo showing himself traveling in a car with Jordi Turull, secretary general of Junts, to demonstrate that he was not disguised or hidden during the journey. He argued that his return was intended to expose what he called the Supreme Court’s resistance to applying the amnesty law, a stance he claims remains unchanged.
Jordi Turull supported Puigdemont’s version, stating that the operation revealed weaknesses in the Spanish state. However, Rufián responded by calling the action unworthy of a president and accused Junts of hypocrisy regarding patriotism. His remarks triggered immediate responses from Junts leaders, including Turull, who accused Rufián of seeking notoriety and suggested his actions served Spanish interests. Gonzalo Boye, Puigdemont’s lawyer, also weighed in, hinting at questions about Rufián’s true allegiances.
The renewed dispute between Junts and ERC comes as the far-right independence party Aliança Catalana gains momentum in the polls, adding further pressure to the already fragmented pro-independence bloc. The acrimony between the two main parties has intensified, with each side using the anniversary to reinforce its narrative and question the other’s commitment to the independence cause.
Puigdemont’s brief return to Catalonia in August two years ago took place under heavy police surveillance, with Mossos d’Esquadra reportedly prepared to detain him. According to Puigdemont, it was his first time back in Catalonia since leaving Spain in October 2017 to avoid arrest. He maintains that the move was a deliberate challenge to the authorities and a demonstration of the Supreme Court’s ongoing resistance to the amnesty process.
For context, the amnesty law remains a central issue in Catalan politics, with the Supreme Court’s position continuing to generate controversy. The rivalry between Junts and ERC has repeatedly complicated efforts to present a united front on independence, and public disputes such as this one highlight the persistent divisions. The rise of Aliança Catalana further complicates the landscape, as shifting voter preferences threaten to reshape the balance of power within the independence movement. The situation underscores the ongoing volatility in Catalan politics, where symbolic gestures and public confrontations continue to shape the debate over the region’s future.
