Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy warned Monday that Madrid would maintain unpopular direct control on Catalonia if the former regional leader Carles Puigdemont tries to be sworn in remotely from Belgian exile.

Speaking to party members in Madrid, Rajoy said that Puigdemont had "to be physically present" in Catalonia to be sworn in, and if that didn't happen, the central government would maintain direct rule imposed after Catalan leaders declared independence in October.

Source: AFP