Spain’s state prosecutor has asked a judge to issue a European arrest warrant for the dismissed Catalan president Carles Puigdemont and four of his former regional ministers after they failed to return from Belgium to testify in court.

All five failed to show up at Spain’s high court on accusations of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds.

Puigdemont, who is currently in Brussels, was summoned to give evidence on Thursday and Friday.

He and 13 other members of his ousted administration could be charged over the Catalan parliament’s decision to declare regional independence last week.

Puigdemont’s lawyer in Belgium, said the climate in Spain was “not good” and his client wanted to maintain some distance; but he would cooperate with the courts.