BARCELONA, 15 October 2026, Jordi Turull, secretary general of Junts, paid tribute on Thursday to Lluís Companys, the former president of the Generalitat executed by Franco’s regime, at the annual commemoration at the Fossar de Santa Eulària on Montjuïc in Barcelona.

Accompanied by Mònica Sales, president of Junts in the Catalan Parliament, and party spokesperson Josep Rius, Turull accused the Spanish state of repeatedly attempting to suppress Catalan identity, stating that Companys’ execution was an effort to “kill the national sentiment” of Catalonia.

“They sought to kill that feeling, but they have not succeeded and will never succeed,” Turull said, adding that Junts remains committed to placing the interests of Catalonia above electoral considerations.

Turull highlighted what he described as a turning point in Catalan political life, noting that this year would be the last in which key Junts figures, including Carles Puigdemont, were absent from the tribute due to legal constraints. He said Puigdemont, along with former ministers Toni Comín and Lluís Puig, would attend next year’s ceremony.

“Next 15 October, we will have President Puigdemont here, we will have Minister Comín, Minister Puig, and we will have them because we are heirs to President Companys’ promise not to surrender to injustice,” Turull declared.

Amnesty developments enable potential return

Turull’s remarks follow recent legal advances under the Catalan Amnesty Law. On 6 October 2026, Catalan President Josep Rull called on the judiciary to apply the law urgently and without exception, citing a ruling by the Constitutional Court that corrected the Supreme Court’s prior interpretation.

The Constitutional Court’s decision, issued on 13 October, granted an amparo (legal protection) to former minister Dolors Bassa, establishing that excluding malversation charges from amnesty violated her right to effective judicial protection. This sets a precedent affecting similar cases, including that of Puigdemont.

On 14 October, Supreme Court judge Pablo Llarena lifted the national arrest warrant against Puigdemont, Comín and Puig, removing a key legal barrier to their return. While Puigdemont has not confirmed a date, his legal team and political allies indicate he will not return during the ongoing electoral campaign.

“He will not return in the middle of the campaign, which is what the PSOE would want,” said Gonzalo Boye, Puigdemont’s lawyer, in a 13 October interview with Catalunya Ràdio.

Laura Borràs, former president of the Catalan Parliament, echoed this, saying Puigdemont intends a “return for the country, not the party,” aiming for a broader political moment beyond the 29 November general elections.

Primary sources: lamoncloa.gob.es. Reported by europapress.es, Mª Carmen Cruz Martín, parlament.cat, elperiodico.com, abc.es, euronews.com, CENDOJ, Europa Press Barcelona.