An Uncertain Future for Former Catalan President

Latest update on the Catalan crisis

Despite uncertainty, the Catalan administration remains active as officials and companies find ways to operate amid instability.

The Catalan crisis was shaken up by former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont’s detention by German authorities on March 26th. After several days awaiting the decision of the German judiciary, the former Catalan leader cannot be extradited to Spain on a charge of high treason since the evidence of violence necessary for this particular offense is not present.

Thus, the court ruled that Puigdemont can be released on bail while he awaits the final decision on whether to extradite him on embezzlement of public funds charges. Similarly, the former members of Puigdemont’s government based in United Kingdom and Belgium have not been arrested yet and wait for the final decision of the judiciary of these countries on extradition requests made by the Spanish Supreme Court.

However, Puigdemont’s judicial situation is still serious. According to Spanish legislation, the charge of embezzlement of public funds might bring a sentence of up to 12 years of imprisonment and disqualification for any public position for 10 to 20 years. Therefore, the former president of the Catalan government would not be able to return to his former position in the near future, so struggles between pro-independence parties to invest a suitable candidate for the presidency of the region would continue.

Meanwhile, the temporary suspension of the autonomy of Catalonia (decided by the national government with the support of the Senate on October 2018) is still in place and will not be lifted until a new government is established in the region. Nevertheless, the Catalan administration remains active with several regulations being developed and meetings with companies’ representatives being held on a daily basis.

Thus, it seems that the public administration of Catalonia, as well as the companies located in the territory, are getting used to operating in this new normal, a scenario of stable instability.

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