MADRID — Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy of Spain warned Monday that the government will keep control of Catalonia if the former regional leader who was ousted for pushing independence tries to resume office from Belgium, where he is eluding Spanish authorities.

The former Catalan president, Carles Puigdemont, wants to present his candidacy for his old job to Catalonia’s Parliament by video or through a delegate to avoid returning to Spain and being arrested. Puigdemont was re-elected during a parliamentary election last month after campaigning from Brussels.

The Catalan assembly’s regulations are not clear on whether a candidate can be considered in absentia. The region’s anti-independence opposition and Rajoy’s government have said they would take the matter to the Constitutional Court of Spain if lawmakers vote on the fugitive Puigdemont.

The new Parliament is set to meet for the first time Thursday. An initial vote to pick Catalonia’s next president is likely to take place by the end of the month.

Rajoy said Monday that the new president would have to be sworn into office in person. He added that the Spanish government would continue invoking constitutional authority to run Catalonia until that happens.

Much to Rajoy’s ire, secessionist parties again won the most seats in the Dec. 21 election the prime minister called under the temporary takeover powers after removing Puigdemont’s government and dissolving its Parliament.

Eight of their lawmakers, including Puigdemont, have fled Spain or are in jail facing possible charges of rebellion or sedition.

ASSOCIATED PRESS