The Catalan party Junts wants to make political use of the possibility of Carles Puigdemont returning to Spain opened up by new court rulings. On 6 October 2026, the Tribunal Constitucional confirmed key parts of the amnesty law for offences linked to the independence conflict, including its application to the offence of misappropriation (malversación). The investigating judge at the Tribunal Supremo, Pablo Llarenasubsequently provisionally suspended the arrest warrants for Puigdemont that apply in Spain.
Junts sees these steps as a sign of normalisation and is considering bringing a possible, institutionally framed return by Puigdemont to Catalonia prominently into the national campaign. At the same time, the party leadership points to Puigdemont’s repeated statements that he would return to Spain only once the amnesty had been fully applied and the relevant proceedings definitively concluded. The party says this position is based on legal certainty and the desire to avoid creating legal grey areas.
Reactions from other parties are divided. Representatives of the governing camp see the constitutional court’s clarification as a contribution to easing tensions. Opposition parties, however, warn that the judiciary is being instrumentalised for the election campaign. Legally, the Tribunal Constitucional’s ruling sets the framework, but its implementation is a matter for the competent criminal courts. The Tribunal Supremo’s decision to suspend the arrest warrants is considered an important, but not final, step. Further procedural acts and their publication are still pending before a definitive conclusion can be declared.
Puigdemont’s actual return therefore remains uncertain as a factor in Spain’s election campaign. His presence in Catalonia could politically boost mobilisation around Junts and influence the agenda in Madrid. Opposition parties could also react by taking a tougher line against the government’s approach to Catalan pro-independence parties. The overall impact beyond Catalonia will depend on the timing, presentation and legal safeguards surrounding any possible appearance.
One thing is certain: the decisions of 6 October create a new situation, but do not replace the remaining judicial steps. Junts is counting on the symbolic value of a return, while tying it to procedural milestones. The effect on the election campaign therefore remains an option for now – supported by the constitutional framework, but dependent on its full implementation.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).