Spain's top court rejects arrest warrant for Catalonia leader Puigdemont

Spain's Supreme Court on Monday rejected the state prosecutor's demand to reactivate a European arrest warrant for former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont.

Puigdemont, who is in Denmarkto give a speech, potentially faces decades of jail in Spain for leading Catalonia's independence drive.

The decision to reactivate the arrest warrant was postponed until the Catalan parliament is restored to normal activity, the court said in a statement.

The decision came after new Catalan parliament SpeakerRoger Torrent said on Monday that Puigdemont's name would be the first candidate whose name will be put to avote in parliament to be the region's president.

Spain issued a warrant for Puigdemont's arrest in November, but withdrew it after a month amid fears that Brussels would send him back, but restrict the crimeshe could be tried for.

The Spanish government says Puigdemont cannot be electedCatalonia president again, or rule the region, because he is inself-imposed exile in Belgium and would not be physicallypresent for the vote. His supporters say modern technology wouldallow him to rule remotely.

Puigdemont arrived in the Danish capital ofCopenhagenon Monday to talk at a university there and meet with Danish legislators.

Consensus choice to lead again

It is his first trip outside of Belgium since he left Spain, dodging a judicial investigation into an illegal and unsuccessful independence declaration in late October, which followed a referendum held earlierin the month backing secession.

Puigdemont fled to Brussels shortly after he declared Catalonia's independence,to avoid a Spanish probe for his role in what Spain deemed to be an illegal secession bid.

While separatist parties had already said Puigdemontwas their candidate, Torrent's announcement makes it official.

Torrent said Puigdemont is the only candidate with enough backing to attempt a government following regional elections last month.Torrent saidhe has written asking Prime Minister MarianoRajoyto meet and talk about the "abnormal situation" in Catalonia.

Puigdemont's candidacy will be voted on no later than Jan31.