Puigdemont delays his return to Spain until after the general elections

Carles Puigdemont will not return to Spain until after the general elections, as hinted in an interview on 2 CAT. The delay avoids overshadowing Miriam Nogueras, Junts' candidate for Congress.

According to El Debate, Carles Puigdemont is in no rush to return to Spain. In a conversation aired on the programme Pla Seqüència, from 2 CAT, the amnestied former president spoke with Jordi Basté and hinted at part of his personal and political future.

The leader of Junts suggested that he will wait until all the amnesty procedures are in place before returning. After nine years away from justice, he will remain for a few weeks in Waterloo, on the outskirts of Brussels, until the general elections take place. According to the conversation, the option of running as a candidate for Congress was never on the table.

The delay also prevents his figure from overshadowing Miriam Nogueras, Junts' candidate for Congress. The party knows that its deputies are unlikely to regain the decisive weight they had in the outgoing legislature, but they aspire to maintain their seven seats.

The campaign looks challenging for Junts, which will have to compete with the list of Gabriel Rufián and cope with the decline anticipated by the polls. Puigdemont's team benefits from the announcement by Silvia Orriols, who will not run with Aliança Catalana because, in her view, it does not address foreign policy issues. Some voters who might have gone with the mayor of Ripoll will have to wait for the municipal elections in May.

Puigdemont has already indicated that, upon his return, he wants to tour Catalan municipalities to gauge the situation. In the interview, he hinted that he will resign his seat in the Parlament, which is now vacant. On that point, he stated:

“after nine years of absence, it would not make sense for him to carry out the oversight work of Salvador Illa.”

This resignation benefits Silvia Orriols, who will continue to attract attention and clashes with Salvador Illa in the control sessions of the Parlament.

Regarding the Generalitat, Puigdemont did not close the door on leading the candidacy for the presidency in the regional elections scheduled for 2028, but he also showed no interest in doing so. Oriol Junqueras from ERC has already declared himself a candidate, while Puigdemont will not decide until he finishes his tour of Catalonia.

Privately, in Junts, they do not hide that a victory for the right-wing bloc formed by PP and Vox in the general elections could serve to reactivate the streets and encourage their bases to attempt a new “procés.” Meanwhile, Puigdemont will remain in Waterloo.