Former CEO of Catalonia, Carlos Puigdemont, who fled the region in 2017 after the independence referendum, has announced his intention to run in the upcoming regional elections in Catalonia. The elections are scheduled for May 12th.

“The Spanish government is repressing the Catalans in an attempt to silence them. I have decided to present myself as a unified candidate in Catalonia,” Puigdemont said during a press conference in Perpignan, France, where he is currently residing.

In 2017, one million voting cards were printed for the independence referendum in Catalonia.

Sources indicate that Puigdemont’s goal is to facilitate the self-determination of Catalonia. The leadership of the Catalan Parliament is presently discussing the negotiation schedule with representatives of the self-proclaimed Catalan government.

During the Spanish judiciary’s investigation, Puigdemont sought refuge in Belgium, where he was a former member of the European Parliament. However, attempts to extradite him have been unsuccessful.

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