Police in Barcelona launched a manhunt for Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont on Thursday when he returned to Spain after nearly seven years abroad evading an arrest warrant.
The separatist politician vanished into a crowd of supporters shortly after addressing them in the Catalan capital.
The interior ministry said roadblocks had been set up to vet vehicles heading out of the city.
The former Catalan president’s return is a threat to the stability of the country’s Socialist-led government, which depends on the votes of Puigdemont’s party to reach a parliamentary majority.
Puigdemont is wanted on charges of misuse of public funds after leading a failed bid for Catalan independence in 2017, which pitched Spain into its biggest crisis since its return to democracy.
He fled the country in October 2017 and became an member of the European parliament living in Belgium.
@VOTA1р1Y
Is it justifiable for a leader to evade arrest if they believe their cause is right, or should they face legal consequences?
@VOTA1р1Y
Яка ваша думка про уряди, які покладаються на підтримку партій, лідери яких перебувають у правових турботах, і як це, на вашу думку, впливає на стабільність країни?
@VOTA1р1Y
Як би ви відреагували, якщо політична постать з вашої країни шукала притулок в іншій країні, щоб уникнути правових звинувачень?
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