Carles Puigdemont, who was president during the 2017 independence referendum, evaded Spanish police and left Barcelona after appearing at a rally near the regional Parliament.
His return to Catalonia was perceived as an attempt to sustain relevance as pro-independence parties faced electoral setbacks, with Puigdemont leaving Spain and heading back to Belgium afterward.
His appearance and vanishing act puzzled the nation, triggering arrests within Catalonia's police force amid accusations of security lapses and political embarrassment for Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
Puigdemont's cunning maneuver drew a mix of reactions, symbolizing the ongoing tensions and complexities surrounding the Catalonia independence movement.
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