Puigdemont surprises in Prats de Molló at the inauguration of Casa Macià

The former Catalan president and leader of Junts attended the inauguration of the museification project of the Casa Macià this Sunday, about 13 kilometres from the border. The event also brought together Jordi Pujol and Pere Aragonès.

The former president of the Generalitat and leader of Junts, Carles Puigdemont, unexpectedly attended the inauguration of the museification project of the Casa Macià in Prats de Molló (France) this Sunday. According to Infobae, the former leader's presence at the event was not listed on the prior public agenda.

The French town is located 13 kilometres from the border with Spain. The visit comes after the judge of the Supreme Court, Pablo Llarena, withdrew the arrest warrant against Puigdemont and closed the case that had been open since 2017 regarding the procés. This step opens the way for the Criminal Chamber to definitively apply amnesty to him.

Also present at the event were former presidents Jordi Pujol and Pere Aragonès, former Parliament president Carme Forcadell, the general secretary of Junts, Jordi Turull, and the president of the Parliament, Josep Rull. The Minister of Culture, Sònia Hernández, was also in attendance.

The Casa Macià is an interpretation centre dedicated to historical memory, promoted by the Fundació Casa Francesc Macià. Its board includes Puigdemont, Aragonès, Forcadell, former president Quim Torra, and former minister Àngels Ponsa, among others. The foundation is chaired by former culture minister and Junts MP Lluís Puig, who returned to Catalonia on 21 October after nine years in hiding from Spanish justice.

Puig explained to 3Cat that the aim of the centre is to promote research and energise the area, to raise awareness of a part of Catalan history. The opening coincides with the week marking the centenary of the Events of Prats de Molló, the attempted military invasion of Catalonia from France organised by the former president of the republican Generalitat, Francesc Macià.

During the event, Puig presented a short film of about fifteen minutes about Macià and those events, directed by Albert Naudín and narrated by actors Lluís Soler and Sílvia Bel. The project was partially funded by a crowdfunding campaign that the foundation launched in March to raise a minimum of 35,000 euros in forty days.