Meeting Planned Upon Puigdemont’s Return
Salvador Illa, President of the Generalitat, will receive former president Carles Puigdemont at the Palau de la Generalitat in Barcelona once Puigdemont returns to Catalonia in the coming weeks. This will mark Puigdemont’s first visit to the seat of Catalan government since he left Spain in October 2017 following the illegal independence referendum and unilateral declaration of independence. The meeting is being prepared by the Catalan government and is intended to mirror the institutional receptions Illa has held with other former regional presidents. According to official sources, Puigdemont will receive "exactly the same treatment" as his predecessors, despite his unique political and legal status.
Symbolic Step in Political Normalisation
The reception is framed by the Catalan Executive as part of a broader policy of institutional continuity and normalisation, particularly following the approval of the amnesty law that enables Puigdemont’s return. The Constitutional Court has begun reviewing the law, and the Catalan government insists it must be applied "immediately, without any subterfuge", as stated by spokesperson Sílvia Paneque. Although Puigdemont currently cannot serve as parliamentary opposition leader due to his lack of official deputy status, he remains president of Junts and a key political figure. His return is expected around 1 or 27 October, though no official date has yet been confirmed.
The intention is to treat Puigdemont institutionally like the rest of the former presidents, despite his role as Illa’s main political rival.
This will be the second face-to-face meeting between Illa and Puigdemont. Their first took place in September 2025 at the Generalitat’s office in Brussels, where Illa travelled to meet the exiled leader. At the time, Illa expressed a desire to meet all former presidents, including those in exile or with complex legal situations.
Political Context and Expectations
Despite the symbolic gesture, sources close to Puigdemont told ABC that the meeting will not alter the relationship between Junts and the PSC. The party intends to maintain firm opposition to Illa’s government in order to position itself as a credible alternative ahead of future elections. Puigdemont has not announced plans to step down as Junts’ lead candidate, though internal party sources suggest this could change in the coming months. For now, he is expected to remain at the helm if elections were held today.
Primary sources: govern.cat. Reported by abc.es, elplural.com, laciutat.cat, Cadena SER, elmon.cat, publico.es, cronicaglobal.elespanol.com, 3CatInfo, larazon.es, lavanguardia.com, es.ara.cat, elconfidencial.com, cristian reino, ABC Cataluña.
