The former president of the Generalitat and current leader of Junts, Carles Puigdemont, has stated that, when he can return to Catalonia, his goal will be to "immerse himself" fully in the territory to breathe it, touch it, and listen to its inhabitants, with the intention of personally checking what has changed in these years.
In an interview granted to the British newspaper 'The Sunday Times' and disseminated by Europa Press this Sunday, he emphasized that 9 years have already passed since he left Catalonia and that, although he makes a "permanent effort" to stay connected to what happens in the country, he is aware that it is no longer the same reality he left behind.
The former leader has insisted that he does not regret any of the decisions he made and has defended that October 1 will be marked in the history books: "We defeated Spain democratically," he stated.
He also explained that "he did not know how long he would be in exile, but he was willing to spend his whole life. And if he has to spend his whole life like this, he is willing," making it clear that he assumed from the beginning an indefinite horizon away from Catalonia.
Reflection on Ceuta and migration policy
When asked about the migration situation in Ceuta, Puigdemont believes that Spain is experiencing a strong political and social fracture. He questioned, "What sense does it make for a country in the European Union to have two colonies or two cities in Morocco? If you look at it from a Moroccan perspective, of course this is a wound," he pointed out, referring to Ceuta and Melilla.
In this line, he maintained that the State will not promote a self-determination referendum in Ceuta because "they are afraid" that Catalonia will claim the same. However, he admits that the population of Ceuta maintains, according to him, a feeling very tied to Spanish identity.
View on judicial cases and the Government
Regarding the various judicial cases that implicate the Government, Puigdemont has assured that "of course there are cases of corruption," but he maintains that the focus of these investigations would not be on regenerating the system, but on attacking the party in power.
He has warned that "the system will remain corrupt" and has denounced what he considers obvious abuses in procedures such as the one affecting the wife of the President of the Government, Begoña Gómez.
About the role of the head of the Executive, Pedro Sánchez, in the international arena, especially in relation to his support for Palestine, he states that he acts driven by internal political interests and that, if he could gain benefits by engaging with the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, he would do it: "It is not honest. He does it for electoral marketing."