The Spanish government is studying the prospect of hiring a lawyer in Belgium to defend the Spanish justice system in the civil lawsuit president Carles Puigdemont and the four ministers in exile have brought against Supreme Court judge Pablo Llarena.
Government sources say that this is the normal procedure in such cases because the state's legal service cannot act outside Spain's borders. That said, any lawyer would be under the body's direction and supervision.
However, the Spanish government is still analysing what its best option is for the case. If they decide on hiring a lawyer, they would appear before the Belgian court on 4th September instead of Llarena in person.
The General Council of the Judiciary approved on Thursday an agreement urging the justice and foreign ministries to adopt "all the measures necessary" to guarantee "the integrity and immunity" of Spanish justice. The council's permanent commission also agreed to protect Llarena.
For the moment, however, no final decision has been taken and sources say that all options are being considered.