Lluís Puig returns to Catalonia after nine years in exile

Lluís Puig has crossed the border and returned to Catalonia after nine years in exile, the Catalan News Agency (ACN) has confirmed.

The former culture minister has chosen to return before the Spanish Supreme Court concludes its case against him over the events of the 2017 Catalan independence push.

His return follows the decision by investigating judge Pablo Llarena to lift the arrest warrants against Puig, former health minister Toni Comín and former president Carles Puigdemont.

Puig was culture minister at the time of Catalonia's 2017 independence referendum, deemed illegal by Spain.

"The time has come," Puig said on Wednesday morning in a social media post.

He also announced that he would attend the Cants de la Llibertat (Songs of Freedom) gathering on Wednesday evening in Terrassa, his hometown.

The singing event has been held every evening since autumn 2017.

On Thursday, Puig – currently an elected Catalan MP – plans to attend a session of Parliament in person.

Puig urges independence movement to "find a way forward"

In an interview with 3CatInfo on Wednesday, Puig urged the independence movement to "find a way forward" towards an independent state.

During his nine years in exile, he said, "a lot of work has been done" and "many contacts have been made."

He also said he hoped to return to Parliament "with his head held high" and remove the yellow ribbon that has occupied his seat for "too many years."

"I have always said that I left ... proud to have done the job I had to do," the former minister said. He added: "I'm really looking forward to sitting in the seat I won democratically."

Puig said that during his nearly nine years in exile, he had explained the "conflict between Catalonia and Spain," which, in his view, "was not sufficiently well known."

The situation, he said, "has not been resolved in nine years or in three centuries," referring to the War of the Spanish Succession.

"We have to find a way forward and seek a form of freedom, whatever it takes," he urged. "I hope we have learned a lot about how to move in that direction."

Parliament welcome

Catalan Parliament Speaker Josep Rull and members of the chamber’s bureau will welcome Puig at 3pm on Thursday.

In a radio interview with 'El Món a RAC1,' Rull said he would greet Puig at the entrance to Parliament.

Puig will then address the chamber from the parliamentary hemicycle, where the yellow ribbon will be removed from his seat.

Rull acknowledged that Puig’s reception "may have some elements in common" with the return of former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont, but said that Puigdemont was "the president in exile" who "has preserved the integrity of the institution."

Rull, who like Puig is a member of Junts, will also attend the Cants de la Llibertat (Songs of Freedom) gathering in Terrassa on Wednesday evening.

Puigdemont thanks Puig

Junts leader Carles Puigdemont welcomed Puig's return from exile in a post on social media.

Puigdemont thanked him for "not giving up and for your support over all these years," praising his "resilience, courage and deep love for Catalonia."

"Welcome home!" Puigdemont concluded.