Puigdemont announces his intention to return to Spain despite the judicial tensions.

At a mass event held in southern France, former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont made clear his intention to return to Spain in the near future. During his speech, he addressed an enthusiastic audience of approximately 2,200 people and expressed his desire to attend the upcoming investiture debate. However, his return is not without risks, as there is a warrant for his arrest in Spain, which has generated tensions and concerns among those around him. Puigdemont did not hesitate to label the actions of certain judges as a "judicial conspiracy" and expressed his outrage at what he considers a "coup d'état" for refusing to apply the recently approved amnesty law. This law, which seeks to free those involved in the Catalan independence process from the charges against them, has been a subject of controversy and has caused divisions among various political forces in Spain. During his address, the leader of Junts emphasized that the failure to apply the amnesty constitutes a crime that should be prosecuted by the Attorney General. "When they do not apply the Amnesty Law, they are committing a crime," Puigdemont asserted, urging the authorities to avoid what he described as an "illegal and arbitrary" arrest. This message represents a clear challenge to the government of Pedro Sánchez and the Spanish judicial system. The former Catalan president also criticized the government's attitude, accusing it of "looking the other way" in the face of what he considers a "rebellion of the judges." In a vehement tone, Puigdemont warned that judicial resistance to applying a law approved by the Parliament represents a challenge to democracy, a situation he equates with a coup d'état. This incendiary rhetoric resonates within a context of political confrontation in Catalonia, where separatist tensions remain present. Puigdemont did not overlook the concerns expressed by his entourage regarding his potential imprisonment upon returning to Catalonia. Despite these warnings, the former president made it clear that his decision to return is not a personal matter but a political one. "No one will be able to stop it. There will be no more electoral campaigns in exile," he stated, anticipating a future where his party and he resume political activity from the heart of Catalonia. Additionally, Puigdemont underscored the importance of his presence in the Parliament during the investiture debate, stating that "only a coup d'état could prevent me from being there." Such statements reveal the former president's conviction about his role in Catalan politics and the urgency he feels regarding the current situation in the country. The political context in Catalonia is further complicated by the negotiations between the ERC party and the PSOE for the investiture of Salvador Illa. Puigdemont warned of the "decisive days and weeks" ahead and expressed concern about the possibility of a government that he describes as "the most Spanish version of the socialists." This fear reinforces Puigdemont’s narrative about the need for a constant struggle for the rights and self-determination of Catalonia. At this event, the secretary general of Junts, Jordi Turull, also spoke, stating that his party would do everything possible to prevent Illa from being invested as president of the Generalitat. Turull was emphatic, asserting that if this were to happen, it would initiate a "process of denationalization" of Catalonia, which would provoke an active response from his party. The climate of polarization and confrontation in Catalonia is palpable, and the statements from Puigdemont and Turull indicate that the struggle for independence and the assertion of rights will remain central to the political agenda. With an imminent return and the possibility of judicial confrontations on the horizon, the situation is becoming increasingly complex. In summary, the threat of arrest, criticisms of the judicialization of politics, and the prospect of an imminent investiture debate have placed Puigdemont at the center of media and political attention. His return to Spain could mark a turning point in the already tumultuous relationship between Catalonia and the rest of Spain, signaling a new chapter in the history of Catalan independence.