Ousted Catalan leader will not return to Spain to testify

REUTERS, 1 November, 2017- A lawyer for dismissed Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont, due to appear in a Spanish court this week to answer charges relating to Catalonia’s push for independence, said he would not return to testify but could answer questions from Belgium.  

If Puigdemont fails to appear before the court, an arrest warrant could be issued that would in turn prevent him from standing in the snap regional election called by the Spanish government for Dec. 21.  There was currently no arrest warrant out for Puigdemont, the lawyer told Associated Press.