Puigdemont lawyer refuses to rule out a surprise appearance in Catalonia

The ousted former Catalan president is just one of more than a dozen lawmakers and civic group leaders under investigation for rebellion and sedition

The ousted Catalan leader speaks via videolink during the 10th Gaudi Awards in Barcelona on Sunday (EPA)

Catalonia’s fugitive ex-president, Carles Puigdemont, asked the region’s parliament on Monday to guarantee his right to attend a session this week in which he hopes to be re-elected government leader, without being arrested.

Spain’s constitutional court ruled on Saturday that Mr Puigdemont, who fled to Belgium following an illegal declaration of independence last October, must be present in parliament to be chosen as the region’s chief in Tuesday’s session. But a Spanish judge has ordered Mr Puigdemont’s arrest on possible rebellion and sedition charges if he re-enters Spain.

The constitutional court also said Mr Puigdemont must get court permission to attend the session. Initially, Mr Puigdemont was expected to seek that, but his lawyer said Monday this was unlikely. The lawyer did not rule out Mr Puigdemont’s attendance.

The court ruled the session would not be valid if Mr Puigdemont attends without the permit.

Should the Catalan parliament governing board approve Mr Puigdemont’s request and encourage his attendance without the permit, it would set the chamber on course for further clashes with Spain’s government and courts.

Mr Puigdemont is just one of more than a dozen lawmakers and civic group leaders already under investigation for rebellion and sedition relating to an independence push that brought Spain’s worst political crisis in decades to a head.

The slim majority regained by separatist lawmakers headed by Mr Puigdemont in 21 December elections has kept the crisis very much alive.

In Tuesday’s session, the parliament speaker has two choices. He can ignore the court and allow a vote with Mr Puigdemont present in person, if he turns up, or by video conference, which has been banned by the tribunal.

Alternatively, he can seek another candidate but that would likely outrage the thousands of pro-independence supporters promising to rally outside the chamber.

Polls regularly show most Catalans want the right to decide the region’s future, but are evenly divided over splitting from Spain.

AP