They only wait for Puigdemont

Mid-morning, the media echoed the ECJ ruling that endorsed the amnesty law. On Spanish private television, the news caused them some bewilderment. The ruling shattered their condemnatory narrative of the last nine years, and they didn't know how to manage this new informational course. The contrarian reaction became evident in the time they dedicated to the news. Puigdemont has been one of the protagonists against whom more hours have been invested, and this time, they didn't dwell much on the analysis. On Espejo público, with Griso on vacation, they opted to ask themselves: “¿Vuelve Puigdemont?” and “¿Está más cerca el regreso de Carles Puigdemont a España?” Beyond speculating on the answer, presenter Lorena García quickly turned the page on the topic to address new issues. Ana Terradillos did the same on La mirada crítica on Telecinco. As soon as the reporter, standing in front of the National High Court, announced the sentence, the presenter got down to business when it came to moving on to new morning matters: “Bueno, pues este es el titular. Y ahora les dejamos con otras imágenes de la mañana”. On Vamos a ver, the following program, they didn't say a word about the news. On Cuatro, they also wondered about Puigdemont's return with on-screen captions. On En boca de todos, the sensationalist Nacho Abad asked for a live assessment from the PP spokesperson, Esther Muñoz, who downplayed her party's interest in the judges' decisions. Meanwhile, Pilar Rahola listened, laughing, from another box on the screen. Rahola noted the spokesperson's evasiveness and, after outlining the new judicial landscape that was emerging from now on, posed a challenging question to the presenter: “¿A quién le interesa más que venga ahora Puigdemont? ¡Te aseguro que al PSOE no es!” Nacho Abad, instead of answering, abruptly ended the topic: “¡Lo dejamos ahí! ¡Lo dejamos ahí! ¡Perdonad!”, and cut the connection to address another current issue about Vox. 

One of the most appetizing television moments of the day was seeing how Sandra Golpe, presenter of Antena 3 noticias, had taken the ECJ's ruling. The sentence opened the newscast and the journalist welcomed viewers with a forcedly enthusiastic greeting, as if she had to hide the setback. “There have been no surprises”, announced Golpe, as if she already knew what the Luxembourg courts would decide. But, true to her style, the presenter insisted on several occasions that Puigdemont's return to Spain would not be immediate and that, if he returned now, he would be arrested. “The arrest warrant remains in force. If he returned to Spain now, he would be arrested”, she repeated.

Given the endorsement of the amnesty law, the programs have reconfigured their journalistic focus. The new obsession is Puigdemont's return, and a new episode of persecutions and scrutiny of his movements and habits is expected, as when he settled in Belgium. Deep down, they are eager for the day to come.