Two weeks ago, he was elected a senator for Junts per Catalunya for the Catalan province of Girona. Fourteen months ago, he was travelling in the car with Carles Puigdemont when he was arrested in Germany. This Tuesday, Josep Maria "Jami" Matamala, a businessperson and close friend of the president, has finally returned to Catalonia. He left Waterloo shortly after 7am having said goodbye to president Puigdemont, who he's lived alongside over the last year and a half. At Girona airport, anticipation was running high.
Waiting at the terminal were his friends and family, including Puigdemont's wife, Marcela Topor, as well as a healthy collection of political leaders, including deputy speaker from the Catalan Parliament Josep Costa, Puigdemont's lawyer Gonzalo Boye, former minister and current Congress deputy Laura Borràs and ERC candidate for the European election Diana Riba. There were also dozens of members of the public, responding to a call from pro-independence organisation ANC to welcome Matamala with posters and estelades, "starred" pro-independence flags. Many were wondering if the police would arrest him when he landed. Boye was the only one who appeared calm. At the scheduled time, half ten in the morning, the arrivals door opened and Matamala walked out. Visibly moved, he thanked those gathered to greet him for their support and gave some of them heartfelt hugs, whilst the crowd chanted his name, Puigdemont's name and sang the Catalan anthem, Els segadors.
With emotions running high, the press crowded round to get his reactions. "It's a bittersweet feeling", said Matamala, "because I'm returning alone and there are still prisoners and exiles". When asked what he said to the president by means of farewell, he explained Puigdemont had given him letters to pass on to the prisoners when he can.
Then it was time to leave for home. He'll travel to Madrid at some point, but that's for the future. Today was for catching up on lost time and for meeting with Puigdemont's successor as Catalan president, Quim Torra.