Exiled separatist Puigdemont will run to lead Catalonia, possibly return to Spain

Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont gives a press conference in Elne

MADRID (Reuters) - Exiled Catalan separatist Carles Puigdemont announced on Thursday he will seek to lead the northeastern Spanish region in elections in May, a move which could risk his arrest should he return to Spain and raise implications for the national government as well as the foundering independence movement.

(Reporting by Joan Faus, writing by Aislinn Laing)