Police officer arrested in connection with Puigdemont’s escape in Barcelona – Europe live | Spain

A spokesperson for the Catalan regional police force, the Mossos d’Esquadra, has confirmed that one of its officers has been arrested in connection with the investigation into Carles Puigdemont’s escape.

Spanish media have reported that a car belonging to a Mossos d’Esquadra officer was used in Puigdemont’s escape. The Mossos spokesperson said the force had no comment on the matter beyond confirming the arrest.

Albert Batet, who leads Puigdemont’s Junts party in the Catalan parliament, has attacked the Catalan Republican Left – its erstwhile, pro-independence partners in government – for helping to make Salvador Illa the new regional president.

“It’s a shame and its hurts,” he told regional MPs. “We’ve decided to stay true to republican values. The conditions now are harder and you have decided to take another path. Political unity is non-existent but popular will does exist.”

Illa has responded to Batet by taking him to task for failing to use his speech to mention “the concrete problems our people face” – such as energy, water and healthcare.

Illa’s words are intended to remind regional MPs, and the wider public, that he feels too much time has been wasted on the question of independence – to the detriment of public services and living conditions in Catalonia.

As El País’s Rebeca Carranco points out, Puigdemont’s disappearance is likely to leave the Catalan regional police force, the Mossos d’Esquadra, facing some serious questions:

Puigdemont’s escape came before the eyes of more than 300 police officers in the centre of Barcelona. And now a huge number of officers are out, bringing the city to a standstill and cutting off access, which is causing bemusement among the Mossos themselves, who are talking ‘embarrassment’ and ‘dreadful consequences’ for the force.

Meanwhile, the Catalan transit authority is reporting that the roadblocks set up as police search for Puigdemont are causing traffic jams.

The far right Vox’s Santiago Abascal is not happy either.

The destruction of the state beamed live on Spanish television.

A fugitive giving speeches in the street and then entering parliament is a humiliation for all those Spaniards who are forced to pay the stupidest fines. Sánchez is enjoying the destruction of legality because he sees in it an opportunity to carry on, immune, with his political and economic corruption. Crooks and traitors!

Carles Puigdemont spoke in front of a crowd in Barcelona this morning and then disappeared. He was not seen in the Catalan parliament’s session.

The conservative People’s party leader, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, has called today’s saga “an unbearable humiliation.”

“It’s painful to watch this madness live – a madness for which Pedro Sánchez is chiefly responsible. Damaging Spain’s image like this is unforgivable,” he said.

While there’s been no government reaction to today’s events, the opposition has lost no time in accusing the Madrid government of failing to arrest Puigdemont.

“Another idiotic piece of theatre from Puigdemont,” Carlos Mazón, the conservative People’s party (PP) leader in Valencia posted on X. “The law must be upheld.”

Alicia García, the senate PP leader, blamed the Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez for the “shame and indignation” caused by the former Catalan president’s appearance.

In what has been dubbed Operation Jaula (cage), Catalan police are stopping and searching vehicles heading towards the French border and there are traffic controls around the city centre following reports that Carles Puigdemont was seen leaving in a car.