The operation of Puigdemont's return, with the government of 1-O and Tarradellas' demeanor

BarcelonaThe operation for the return of former president Carles Puigdemont to Catalonia has been simmering, so that since the end of last year it has already been closed and all logistical details have been meticulously planned. But firmly, following the model of the fleeting return of August 8, 2024, which was led by a small nucleus and in which the general secretary, Jordi Turull, and the vice-president, Toni Castellà, actively participated. As ARA has been able to ascertain, the details of the return are being kept with the utmost secrecy, but a series of elements are clear, such as "the key participation" of the government of October 1 in the return event, which will prioritize its own institutionalism for a president in exile. This will allow the reunion of essential figures from that executive, such as Oriol Junqueras, its vice-president, at a time when the pro-independence entities and the president of the Parliament, Carme Forcadell, were also fundamental.

pronounces itself in the same direction as the Advocate General in eight out of ten casesSources from the European court tell this newspaper that there is still no forecast for the date of the ruling. At the same time, sources from Junts who are aware of the matter maintain that the resolution "will be favorable" and note that the Supreme Court, which is the one that must apply the amnesty, "will have no margin" and will have to allow the return of the former head of the Govern. The CJEU pronounces itself in the same direction as the Advocate General in eight out of ten cases.

Prepared return

At this point, Junts has the power of the country's second institution, the presidency of the Parliament, in the hands of Josep Rull, who will be key again. In fact, an institutional reception is being prepared in the chamber. If Tarradellas had the Generalitat to make that famous speech from the balcony of the Palau for all of Plaça Sant Jaume, now Puigdemont can refer to the Parliament, where he is a deputy. In Tarradellas' case, he returned to El Prat airport, which now bears his name, where he had already had a reception, before the culminating moment in the center of the Catalan capital.

Puigdemont will have to say goodbye to the House of the Republic, in Waterloo, which has been his residence for nine years of exile (with a small parenthesis in Northern Catalonia during the 2024 electoral campaign). The most remembered event of these last few years was in February 2020 in Perpignan, where more than 100,000 people demonstrated alongside him. Northern Catalonia was key to the 1-O referendum and Puigdemont has paid tribute to it over the years. It will also be one of the territories he will visit on his country tour, as this newspaper has already explained. Thus, he will go to municipalities throughout Catalonia, beyond the emotional events expected in Girona, the city he governed, and his hometown, Amer.

Northern Catalonia was key to the 1-O referendum and Puigdemont has paid tribute to it over the years. It will also be one of the territories he will visit on his country tour, as this newspaper has already explained. Thus, he will go to municipalities throughout Catalonia, beyond the emotional events expected in Girona, the city he governed, and his hometown, Amer.

A labyrinth

Everything has been prolonged because the Supreme Court refused to apply the amnesty approved two years ago. However, according to consulted sources, socialist emissaries have been maintaining for more than a year that Puigdemont will be able to return after a resolution from the Constitutional Court (TC) once the TJUE has ruled. Other sources suggest that the thesis being maintained is that "the return will be possible in July, but no one is putting their hand in the fire". Even another leader concludes that internally the feeling has set in that the PSOE is not doing everything possible to accelerate the deadlines —for example, in the Constitutional Court, where the progressive sector is the majority— while waiting to see if Junts ends up ousting Puigdemont internally or if he is made to change his mind so that he leaves politics and a pragmatic shift is promoted in the party. After so many complications, the juntaires are still Saint Thomas and only want to believe what they see, hoping that everything is in the bag and well tied before venturing to make calculations.

Head of the opposition?

Leaders from across the territory hope that Puigdemont's return will allow for the acceleration of key decisions, such as the appointment of an opposition leader, and that Junts's path will be further smoothed with two years until the Catalan elections and one year until the municipal elections. As the leader of the second-largest party in the Parliament, it would be logical for Puigdemont to serve as opposition leader once he returns to Catalonia, but this is a decision that has not yet been made: "It will be made once the return is enabled by the European justice system," explain Junts sources.Puigdemont has long since decided that he "will lead the alternative" and will run in the next Catalan elections, which will also allow him to "better combat Silvia Orriols," the leader of the far-right independentist movement, who is gaining ground on Junts in the polls.

There are also some voices that believe there should be a complete assimilation to the old Convergència and a change of leadership in Junts, although this is a minority option.