Puigdemont accuses Le Pen of being VOX’s ‘puppet’

Former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont, leader of the right-wing separatist JxCat party, accused Rassemblement National figurehead Marine Le Pen of acting as a “puppet of the Francoists” of Spain’s far-right VOX party, reacting to an interview where she put into doubt his stay in the south of France.

In a statement posted on social media, Puigdemont reacted to Le Pen’s interview with El Periódico de España in which she said it was “humiliating” that Puigdemont had set up his political headquarters in the south of France during the campaign for the last Catalan elections.

Le Pen said that if her party wins the upcoming legislative elections and Jordan Bardella obtains the premiership, Puigdemont will no longer be able to continue living in France.

“I can tell you that if we win the elections, this situation will not last long. We will be relentless with all those who attack the legitimate institutions of their country, especially if they are friendly and partner countries,” Le Pen commented in the interview, EFE reported.

Puigdemont responded on X with a photo of himself next to the entrance of a Paris metro station.

“Not only do I intend to return, but I will stand up to all attempts to apply Francoist laws that prevent freedom of movement for European citizens,” said Puigdemont, adding that Le Pen “has acted as a puppet of the Francoists of VOX.”

VOX leader Santiago Abascal and Le Pen are close friends, with the leader of the Rassemblement National recently in Spain to support VOX in the European election campaign.

(Fernando Heller | EuroEFE.Euractiv.es)

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