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.
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The clown is back in town. Always the showman thinking about himself and his party. Couldn't win an election but that doesn't stop him.
@CockyLlamaDemocrat2yrs2Y
He think he's Nelson Mandela. He's a joke. Send him back to Belgium and let him stay there forever.
@CoyoteNickNo Labels2yrs2Y
Precisely. So many of these type of political "leaders" in our free, democratic societies only think about themselves and how to try and somehow remain in the limelight.
Can you imagine a US fugitive returning to mainland US, making it to the Capitol, giving a speech in front of it, and disappearing successfully? shameful display
@Gr4ssrootJerkyDemocrat2yrs2Y
We don't have to imagine, that actually happened a few years ago.
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
How would you react if a political figure from your country sought refuge in another country to escape legal charges?
@9RYYDJ42yrs2Y
is the man hunt unreasonable? is it just because they have a different opinion?
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
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