Defying warnings from Madrid, Catalonia's parliament has nominated the former Catalan leader, Carles Puigdemont to serve again as its leader.
Mr Puigdemont, who was sacked by Spain following the region's referendum for independence and Catanonia's unilateral declaration of independence, has been living in Belgium since he fled in October. His colleagues and fellow pro-independence supporters were arrested and charged with sedition.
The parliament's decision has been met with anger by Madrid, which says it will prevent Mr Puigdemont from ruling the region from exile.
Mr Puigdemont remains defiant however, telling an audience at an event in Denmark on Monday, “we will not surrender to authoritarianism."
