Carles Puigdemont’s escape antics may look comic. But he is Spain’s version of Donald Trump | María Ramírez

The former Catalan president staged a dramatic flight from Barcelona - but his charade could fuel extremism in the region and beyond

An egotistical and polarising rightwing election loser addresses his adoring supporters in a speech, casting himself as a victim and questioning democracy, just hours before parliament is set to vote for the formal investiture of the actual winner. The crowd hold aloft pictures of the loser's face, chanting that he is their rightful president, and then turn their anger on the media, harassing reporters who are covering the event. Chaos ensues as some of the leader's supporters attempt to assault the parliament building. Sound familiar?

Carles Puigdemont, the fugitive former president of Catalonia and the leader of the Catalan separatist party Junts, who fled Spain to avoid prosecution after organising an unlawful independence referendum in 2017, staged a dramatic reappearance on a Barcelona stage on Thursday.

Maria Ramirez is a journalist and deputy managing editor of elDiario.es, a news outlet in Spain