Catalonia president Carles Puigdemont will ignore Spanish court order to answer rebellion charges

Arrest warrant could be issued making it virtually impossible for him to stand in upcoming election

Dismissed Catalan regional President Carles Puigdemont attends a press conference at International Press Club of Brussels (Getty)

Catalan's ousted leader Carles Puigdemont will ignore a court order to return to Spain to answer charges over the region's push for independence, his lawyer has said.

If Mr Puigdemont fails to answer the High Court summons, an arrest warrant could be issued that would make it virtually impossible for him to stand in a snap regional election called by the Spanish government for 21 December.

His lawyer said he could testify from Belgium.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy sacked Mr Puigdemont and his government on Friday, hours after the Catalan parliament made a unilateral declaration of independence - a vote boycotted by the opposition and declared illegal by Spanish courts.

On Monday, Spain's state prosecutor filed charges of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds against Mr Puigdemont for defying the central government by holding an referendum on secession on 1 October and later proclaiming independence.

Mr Puigdemont travelled to Belgium at the weekend with other members of the dismissed Catalan administration and hired a lawyer.

The High Court summoned Mr Puigdemont and 13 other former members of the Catalan government to testify in Madrid on Thursday and Friday on the prosecutor's charges.

A judge will then decide whether those called to testify should go to jail pending an investigation that could take several years and potentially lead to a trial. The judge might also grant them conditional bail or order them to surrender their passports.

If he his associates do not turn up, the judge might also order them jailed as a flight risk.

Speaking in Brussels on Tuesday, Mr Puigdemont said he accepted the election and the Madrid government said he was welcome to stand, though legal proceedings might prevent that.