Carles Puigdemont, the former Catalan leader and fugitive, has successfully evaded a large-scale police search and fled Spain, according to his party.
Spanish authorities initiated the manhunt on Thursday after Puigdemont made a surprise return to Spain, delivered a brief speech to crowds in Barcelona, and then vanished.
Puigdemont is wanted by Spain on charges related to the failed Catalan independence bid in 2017.
After spending a dramatic 24 hours on the run, Jordi Turull, the secretary general of Puigdemont’s party, confirmed on Friday that the ex-leader had returned to Belgium, where he has resided for nearly seven years in self-imposed exile.
In an interview with RAC1 radio station, Turull mentioned that Puigdemont is in Brussels but could not confirm if he had reached his residence in the Waterloo municipality.
The Mossos d’Esquadra, Catalonia’s police force, are now under intense scrutiny from a Spanish Supreme Court judge, who has demanded an explanation for how Puigdemont managed to escape.
His unexpected appearance near the Catalan parliament in Barcelona occurred just before the investiture of Socialist Salvador Illa as the new Catalan president.
Source-BBC
