Catalan police launched an operation to locate Carles Puigdemont

The Catalan police activated an operation, dubbed “Cage”, to try to locate the former Catalan president, the pro-independence Carles Puigdemontwhose whereabouts are unknown after returning today to Spain, from where he fled almost seven years ago.

Puigdemont, who is the subject of a national arrest warrant for embezzlement, returned to Spain and gave a brief speech to his followers near the regional parliament, where the investiture debate of the socialist Salvador Illa as the new president of Catalonia (northeast) is taking place.

After taking part in the event organised by his party, Junts per Catalunya (Together for Catalonia), he headed to the regional parliamentary headquarters, where he disappeared from view.

Puigdemont announced on social media on Wednesday his intention to return to Spain after seven years of what he calls “exile” and which began with his flight from the country after unilaterally declaring the independence of Catalonia.

His return coincides with the investiture of Salvador Illa, who, supported by Catalan republicans, will become today the first socialist president of Catalonia after almost 15 years of nationalist governments.

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