Spain's top court said Saturday that Catalonia's fugitive ex-president must return to the country and be present in the regional parliament to receive the authority to form a new government. The court also said that Puigdemont must seek judicial authorization to attend the session. The separatist leader fled Spain after the regional parliament made an unsuccessful declaration of independence on Oct. 27 in violation of Spain's Constitution. It is still unclear whether the separatist majority in Catalonia's parliament will heed the court's ban on voting Puigdemont back into power unless he is there. Spain responded by invoking special powers allowing it to fire the regional government, dissolve Catalonia's parliament and call fresh regional elections in December.

Source: ABC News January 27, 2018 21:10 UTC