Parliament lawyers reject plans to swear in Puigdemont from Brussels

Parliament regulations do not allow the swearing in of the Catalan president at a distance, according to a report by the chamber's lawyers published on Monday. The team of legal experts working in the Catalan parliament concluded that it is "essential" for an MP that aims to become president to be physically in the chamber for debate and voting. The report, which is non-binding, therefore rejects Carles Puigdemont's plans to become president via 'Skype' or by delegating his speech to another colleague.

Puigdemont, who enjoys a pro-independence majority in Parliament, is currently in Belgium. If he was to come back to Catalonia, he would face immediate arrest, as he is being investigated by Spanish authorities for alleged crimes of rebellion, which can carry a prison sentence of up to 30 years. His candidacy, Together for Catalonia (JxCat), has insisted that swearing him in from Brussels is possible.

The deposed Catalan president has repeatedly urged the Spanish government to "respect" the results of the December 21 election, which saw pro-independence forces winning 47% of the vote and an overall majority of seats. Puigdemont said that he wants to come back to Catalonia "with guarantees". He currently has the support of the other pro-independence forces to become president, even from Brussels. Unionist parties reject this option, and the Spanish government has already warned that it would immediately challenge it in Court.

Puigdemont's former vicepresident and leader of ERC, Oriol Junqueras, remains in preventive detention in Madrid, as is the deposed Catalan Home Affairs Minister, Joaquim Forn. All of them are elected MPs but have been denied permission by the judge to be released in order to vote in the opening session of the parliament. Six other former ministers of their cabinet spent a month in jail and were released on bails of up to €100,000. They all face up to 30 years in prison.