The former president of Catalonia and MEP faces immediate arrest if he returns to the country he fled in October 2017.
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00:00After years avoiding the Spanish justice system, former president of Catalonia, Carles Puigdemont,
00:07has announced he intends to return to Spain.
00:10The separatist leader posted a letter on social media platform X, stating that after seven
00:15years in exile in Belgium and France, he would return to his homeland imminently to, quote,
00:20defend against Spanish repression.
00:23The decision carries great personal risk for the former member of European Parliament,
00:28who faces immediate arrest if he returns to the country he fled in October 2017.
00:35Puigdemont travelled to Belgium three days after the failed Catalan declaration of independence
00:39that month to avoid prison.
00:42He was dismissed as president of the regional assembly and faced charges for rebellion,
00:48sedition and embezzlement.
00:50In the letter, Puigdemont says he is aware of the risk of being detained once he returns.
00:56But he underlines that it is his last option to try and avoid a pro-Spanish regional government
01:01in Catalonia, which is set to take over this week after a vote in regional parliament.