Exiled Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont returns to Spain | BBC News

Police in Barcelona are hunting for the separatist former leader of Catalonia, Carles Puigdemont, who made a dramatic return to Spain after a seven-year exile despite facing an outstanding arrest warrant.

For much of the past several years he has lived in Brussels, after police indicted him on charges linked to a failed bid for independence in 2017.

Mr Puigdemont briefly addressed hundreds of supporters who gathered near the Catalan parliament in Barcelona, shortly ahead of the expected investiture of a new head of the Catalan government.

He said he had returned "to remind you that we are still here" and that "holding a referendum is not and will never be a crime."


#Spain #Barcelona #Catalan #BBCNews

[danmorland]

Turn comments on for all your videos BBC!

[chamamemestre]

BBC only allowing comments in the videos it suits them. I advise everyone to dislike their videos (yes, you can still do that), and denounce their videos as misleading.

[jorgeeslava]

Maybe Spain should support Flemmish independence from Belgium. Lets see what Belgium would do.

[nourradam]

God bless Catalunya long live Catalunya ❤

[sebastianguerre]

Switching off the comments section because you can see views that don't match your own is the act of the petulant toddler.

[刘文迪-ij]

England after violent unrest--Please open the comment section. I learned something today that speech is not free

[BenFrank-wtlm]

I agree with President Puigdemont: "holding a referendum is not and will never be a crime." Why the Spanish Supreme Court doesn't want to apply the Amnesty Law passed by the Spanish Parliament a few months ago? Why the Spanish Supreme Court has never respected Puigdemont's immunity when he was an elected member of the EU Parliament? Why the Spanish Supreme Court does NOT APPLY the EU law (and other international agreements) to Catalan independentists? The answer is because Francoism (Spanish religious-fascism made by dictator Franco) is still very alive in most high Spanish institutions.

[kmimiteh]

Thank you very much for questioning democracy in Spain, we need to hear that more often because no, there is no democracy in Spain but and oligarqui of parties that do beyond the law, like today ordering the non-arresting of a criminal agaist a top judge order

[不喝茶呆会儿]

where is the beatutiful sight to behold?

[nitin]

Clever bbc when the uk riot videos arr posted you hide the comments column

[GhenAurwin]

BBC has Turned Off comments regarding the Protests. But lets chomp about Spain, shall we ?

[thetransporter]

We want more coverage on british riots, with enabled comment section!!

[judewarner]

Try to imagine a situation in Britain where a Scottish Independence Referendum returned a majority vote for Scottish Independence, and the leader of the Scottish Parliament had to seek asylum in continental Europe to escape the British police.

NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN! This is why many foreigners hate Britain: to quote the Pub landlord, "We are a sensible, down-to-earth people".

[curiositycloset]

Are we goi g to talk about the government and media organising riots last night, and how quickly those responsible are going to be fast tracked through court?

[soniasegura]

Puidgemont is NOT an exiled leader, is a fugitive from Spanish justice. Please, give true information.

[tvdkroon]

What a brilliant trick to appear and disappear and make Spanish officals look like buffoons...

[Evemeister]

Hardly any comment on the subject matter of the video. The British really do live in a bubble.

Long live to Catalonia, its identity and futurw independence. Same to Scotland and the reunification of Ireland as one.

[fredo]

Did Two Tier Keir tell you to switch off the comments?

[pedrolplgm]

En españa no pagan este genocidio nunca.