The head of Spain's Supreme Court has announced that Madrid would issue an arrest warrant if former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont doesn't show up to testify.
"When someone doesn't appear after being cited by a judge to testify, in Spain or any other EU country, normally an arrest warrant is issued," Supreme Court President Carlos Lesmes said.
Puigdemont's lawyer Paul Bekaert who said earlier, his client had no intention of appearing before the Spanish court, has reiterated his statement on Thursday.
"The climate is not good, it is better to take some distance," lawyer Paul Bekaert told Reuters. "If they ask, he will cooperate with Spanish and Belgian justice," Bekaert added.
According to lawyer Maksim Shome cited by RTBF, Belgian authorities will have to extradite Puigdemont to Spain if Madrid issues the arrest warrant.
"If Carles Puigdemont agrees on the extradition, the process should be accomplished within a 10-days period. If he refuses, the extradition extends to 60 days," Shome said.
The outlet added that police would track the whereabouts of the politicians until November 9, when they are scheduled to again appear in the Supreme Court to testify.
Puigdemont Flees to Belgium After Sacking
On Tuesday, the ousted Catalan leader said that he would only return to Catalonia from Belgium when he had "guarantees" for his safety. Some media reports indicate that Puigdemont’s former advisers, who accompanied him to Belgium, have already returned to Barcelona.
Puigdemont's statement followed the decision of the Spanish Prosecutor General’s Office to file lawsuits on Monday against the former Catalan leaders over rebellion, sedition and embezzlement of state funds and the request to appear before Spain's Audiencia Nacional on Thursday and Friday.
The same day, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy dismissed the Catalan government and Puigdemont. Puigdemont has refused to recognize the dismissal and called for "democratic resistance" to direct rule by Madrid.
