Puigdemont cannot form government from abroad, Spain's top court rules

Spain's top court ruled Saturday that Catalonia's former leader Carles Puigdemont must be present to form a government in Spain, where he is wanted on sedition charges. Puigdemont had previously said he could rule the region from exile in Belgium.


Spain’s Constitutional Court said on Saturday the former leader of Catalonia, Carles Puigdemont, could only attend a swearing-in session to become regional leader if he was physically present in the parliament and had a judge’s permission to attend.

Puigdemont, living in Brussels since October, is wanted in Spain on charges of sedition and rebellion for spearheading an independence movement. He is due to face a vote of confidence as the region’s only presidential candidate on Jan. 30.

Supporters of Puigdemont have said he could rule the region remotely by video link.
  [france24.com]
 27/1/18