Catalan cabinet summoned to high court appearance

Last updated: November 1, 2017 at 9:41 am

Spain has summoned the entire disputed Catalan cabinet, including their leader, to appear in court on Thursday.

A high court judge has said the cabinet, including Carles Puigdemont, must be questioned as part of an investigation into rebellion.

A number of commentators have said that if Puigdemont fails to turn up they assume a warrant for his arrest will be issued.

Spain's attorney general has called for charges of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds to be brought against Puigdemont and 13 other separatist leaders.

The crimes can be punished with decades in prison under Spanish law.

Catalonia's ousted president travelled to Belgium for "freedom and safety" after he was sacked.

But he says he will not seek asylum in the country and will return "immediately" if Spain guaranteed a fair judicial process.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Carles Puigdemont.[/caption]

He has been joined in Brussels by five of his sacked ministers and says the group would stay in Belgium "as long as we consider it [necessary]”.

Puigdemont added: "The situation is developing every day. We have better guarantees for our rights here and we can meet our obligations.

"If [Spanish authorities] can guarantee to all of us, and to me in particular, a just, independent process, with the separation of powers that we have in the majority of European nations, if they guarantee that, we would return immediately."

Election ‘welcomed’

The regional parliament's independence declaration prompted Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to take the unprecedented step of using Article 155 of the constitution to sack Puigdemont and his government and impose direct rule.

The move has seen Madrid take control of Catalonia's civil service, police force and finances and call a snap election, which could see as many as 150 of the region's top officials replaced.

Puigdemont said he welcomed the challenge of an election "with all our strength".

[caption id="attachment_6997" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy. ©Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images[/caption]

He added: "I want a clear commitment from the state. Will the state respect the results that could give separatist forces a majority?"

Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said Puigdemont would be "treated like any other European citizen".

Separately on Tuesday, Spain's civil guard police force searched the headquarters of Catalonia's regional police.