The great paradox of the history of the process is that the politician who did not want to declare independence and who was ready to call elections is the one who has the most difficulty resolving his fate favorably. Carles Puigdemont has decided to play a single card to be able to return: let European justice prove him right. This week, the General Court of the EU held two oral hearings on the withdrawal of immunity from the former president (and other Catalan MEPs), which may also mean that he suspends this shielding that he has, with which he would be more near his extradition.
Puigdemont is against the repeal of the crime of sedition despite the fact that it could benefit him. JxCat is running a campaign to discredit this reform of the Penal Code, arguing that it criminalizes protest. The general secretary of the pro-independence party, Jordi Turull, has confirmed that he will register a full amendment to this legal change, which is also a way of cornering ERC after taking credit for the suppression of the crime.
It is not easy to understand the drifts of JxCat in recent times, after losing hegemony in the sovereignist universe. In any case, Turull added that he is working on the release of the former president of the Generalitat, without him having to go to prison. In fact, in Waterloo they think that if the General Court of the EU rules in favor of Puigdemont, he would be willing to take the risk that it means to return, because he argues that the immunity cannot be only for 26 of the 27 countries of the EU. It would be an invitation to the theses of the Supreme Court and of the same magistrate Pablo Llarena, who believes that his arrest could be ordered anyway if he steps on Spain.
Puigdemont wants to win the pulse of the Spanish state and appear as a hero in the face of independence. The court's decision will occur in the middle of a debate on the elimination of sedition, which could facilitate his situation, which would not at least exempt him from having to appear before justice. The epilogue of the process can still offer surprises. It's the song of the angry.
