Catalonia's fugitive ex-president, Carles Puigdemont, asked the region's parliament on Monday to guarantee his right to attend a session this week in which he hopes to be re-elected government leader, without being arrested. Spain's Constitutional Court ruled Saturday that Puigdemont, who fled to Belgium following an illegal declaration of independence last October, must be present in parliament to be chosen as the region's chief in Tuesday's session. The Constitutional Court also said Puigdemont must get court permission to attend the session. The Constitutional Court ruled the session would not be valid if Puigdemont attends without the permit. In Tuesday's session, the parliament speaker has two choices.

Source: ABC News January 29, 2018 13:30 UTC