Carles Puigdemont

Puigdemont's achievements lie in his political leadership. He was the first Catalan president not to swear loyalty to the Spanish constitution, and he led the 2017 independence referendum that drew 92% support from voters. He won a seat in the European Parliament in 2019 with nearly a million votes in Catalonia. His return to Spain in 2024, despite an outstanding arrest warrant, was a bold political move that underscored his commitment to the cause.