SPEAKER of the Catalan Parliament Roger Torrent has postponed a session to install Carles Puigdemont as its president.

He announced the decision this morning, hours before the investiture was due to start, but he stressed that Puigdemont was still the only candidate for the post.

Spain’s Constitutional Court (TC) had ruled that the sacked president, who is in exile in Brussels, would have to return to Spain and appear in person, as well as seek permission from a judge to be re-elected Catalan leader.

In a statement, Torrent said: “In response to the request of President Puigdemont to guarantee his right to a debate with guarantees, the plenary of today is postponed but in no case disqualified.

“It will be held and will be held once we ensure an effective investiture debate and with guarantees.

“Neither Vice President Soraya [Sáenz de Santamaría], nor the TC will decide who should be the president of the Generalitat of Catalonia. They are the democratically elected deputies and the deputies, who are responsible for doing so.”