Puigdemont cannot be sworn in via Skype, says Constitutional Court

SPAIN'S Constitutional Court has blocked any attempt for Carles Puigdemont to be sworn in as president of Catalunya 'from a distance', which would have been via videoconference, Skype or similar from Brussels where the deposed regional leader is currently in exile along with four of his ministers.

Catalunya Parliamentary leader Roger Torrent, of the Catalunya Left Republicants (ERC) – one of the three main pro-independence parties which hold the majority of seats following the regional elections on December 21 – said earlier today (Sunday) that if necessary, they would have to 'sacrifice' Puigdemont just to get a president in the hotseat and carry on governing.

But a later meeting between ERC and Junts per Catalunya ('Together for Catalunya', or JxCat) drew a blank when trying to come up with another potential presidential candidate, and concluded that Puigdemont continued to be the only name.

Puigdemont has called for the Spanish government to 'guarantee' he will not be arrested if he returns to Spain for the swearing-in ceremony.

The European arrest warrant issued when he and four ministers – two men and two women responsible for culture, education and agriculture among other areas – fled overnight to Brussels in October was quickly cancelled.

But a national arrest warrant remains in place, meaning Puigdemont is safe from custody as long as he stays out of Spain.

Friends and neighbours say this exile is proving 'very hard' for the ex-leader and his wife and family, and that he had considered setting up home in France close to the border to enable them to see each other.

Whilst the Constitutional Court says Puigdemont must be present in Parliament to be sworn in as president and needs authorisation from a judge, it has rejected the national PP-led government's attempt to block his investiture altogether, considering that he was democratically elected.

Meanwhile, three of the ex-ministers in Belgium with Puigdemont – Lluís Puig and Clara Ponsatí of JxCat and Meritxell Serret of the ERC – have renounced their regional Parliamentary seats, meaning other members of their parties who are next in line will get them instead.

This is to ensure that in the event of Puigdemont's investiture, three of the votes will not be discounted because those making them are abroad, and can instead be made by party members who are present and ensure the majority of 68 in favour to allow Puigdemont to govern.

Lluís Puig says the three stepping down is 'an act of dignity towards their country', meaning Catalunya.