Dismissed Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont, who is due to appear in a Spanish court to answer charges relating to Catalonia's push for independence, isn't expected to return to Spain soon, his lawyer says.
If Puigdemont fails to appear before the court on Thursday, 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 December 21.
Puigdemont and his government were sacked last Friday by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy hours after passing a unilateral declaration of independence from Spain through the regional parliament, a vote boycotted by the opposition and considered illegal by Spanish courts.
On Monday, Spain's state prosecutor accused Puigdemont of rebellion and sedition for organising an independence referendum held on October 1 in defiance of the Madrid government.
Puigdemont travelled to Belgium at the weekend with other members of the dismissed Catalan administration and hired a lawyer. Although he appeared at a news conference in Brussels on Tuesday, his plans and next movements were unclear.
"He has not told me but as the situation now stands, I don't see him going back to Spain in the coming weeks," Puigdemont's lawyer Paul Bekaert told Belgian state broadcaster VTM.
Spain's High Court has summoned Puigdemont and 13 other former members of the Catalan government to testify in Madrid on Thursday and Friday on charges of rebellion, sedition and breach of trust.
A judge will then decide whether those called to testify should go to jail pending an investigation that could take up to several years and a potential trial.
Prosecutors have asked the courts to order the Catalan secessionist leaders to deposit 6.2 million euros ($A9.3 million) to cover potential liabilities. However, if Puigdemont and his associates do not turn up this could change and, if considered a flight risk, they could be jailed pending trial.
Puigdemont said in Brussels he accepted the election and the Madrid government has said he is welcome to stand, even though the legal issue could prevent that.
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