Spain's Supreme Court rejected the request of jailed Catalan independence leader Jordi Sanchez, a candidate for the region's presidency, to attend investiture rites March 12, BBC News reported.
The court ruled that Sanchez should remain in prison and cannot join the scheduled investiture debate and vote in the Catalan parliament since there was a risk that he would commit another offense.
Sanchez, the leader of the Catalan National Assembly, was jailed in October 2017 over his role in the region's independence bid.
Ousted Catalan President Carles Puigdemont withdrew his bid to reclaim his post last week, saying he was supporting Sanchez instead.
Catalonia's separatist parties won a slim majority in the regional elections in December 2017.
