Puigdemont's 'parallel government' faces elections with the challenge of redefining its future if the leader returns. The former Catalan president is the undisputed figure of the Consell, while he pulls the strings of Junts per Catalunya.

His dual powers have forced him to juggle to emerge successfully from contradictory situations. The Consell de la República is private in nature and has a base of 103,000 registered people who pay an initial contribution of about 10 euros.