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The BBC's Norman Smith explains both sides of the row, in 40 seconds
Lib Dem peer Lord Rennard is set to rejoin the Lords despite party leader Nick Clegg's call for him to apologise over sexual harassment claims first.
Lord Rennard insists he has not done anything wrong and is threatening to take legal action against the party.
One Lib Dem who made claims against him has said she will quit if he is allowed to take his seat without apologising.
Mr Clegg said an inquiry found Lord Rennard had caused "distress" and saying sorry was "basic decency".
If the peer does not apologise, Lord Rennard faces the threat of being suspended after a meeting of the Lib Dem Regional Parties Committee.
The BBC News Channel's chief political correspondent Norman Smith said if the committee - made up of local party figures - believed Lord Rennard had brought the party into disrepute, disciplinary action could be taken and the Lib Dem whip would be withdrawn.
'Loud and clear'Lord Rennard resigned the party whip last year amid claims he made unwanted sexual advances to several women and touched them inappropriately.
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End QuoteOther parties would have eased Lord Rennard out a long time ago"
The allegations were investigated by senior barrister Alistair Webster QC, who concluded they could not be proved beyond reasonable doubt.
He said there was broadly credible evidence dating back several years of "behaviour which violated the personal space and autonomy of the complainants" and recommended the peer should apologise as a matter of "common manners".
But Lord Rennard says he cannot apologise for legal reasons, as it would be an admission of guilt.
His legal adviser Lord Carlile has warned that the peer will consider legal action against the party if the whip is not reinstated on Monday.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Mr Clegg suggested the peer should apologise as a matter of "basic decency".
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Nick Clegg: "I don't think he should rejoin the party in the House of Lords until he has made that apology"
"That has been the recommendation of an independent formal process.
"It is very much the view I hold, the president of the party holds and many ordinary Liberal Democrats hold and that is why I don't think he should go and rejoin the party in the House of Lords until he has made that apology."
He added: "I have a duty of care not only to those women... I have a duty to say loud and clear as leader of the Liberal Democrats that I expect everybody to treat each other with civility and dignity... particularly people in a position of authority."
Mr Clegg, who has not spoken to Lord Rennard since last week's report was published, said if the peer apologised and agreed to "change his behaviour" then it would be "quite reasonable" for him to return to all his roles in the party.
But he told BBC Radio 4's Today: "If he does not apologise and this goes on and on, of course further steps will have been taken."
Party rules say it is for peers to decide whether to welcome him back, and Chief Whip Lord Newby and the party's leader in the House Lord Wallace could choose to suspend Lord Rennard.
However his fellow peers - many of whom are supportive - have the power to overturn that decision.
'Highly damaging'Lord Rennard also hopes to return to the party's influential Federal Policy Committee but the BBC understands 10 members of the body are writing to the group's chairman to say the peer is not welcome back.
WHO IS LORD RENNARD?
- Chris Rennard, 53, has worked for the Lib Dems since his student days in Liverpool
- He first gained attention as a local activist and then party agent for former MP David Alton, helping him win successive election victories in the city in 1979 and 1983
- He then became campaigns and election director for the whole party, overseeing a host of by-election victories between 1989 and 2003 as the Lib Dems grew in size
- He married Ann McTegart in 1989 and was awarded an MBE in the same year
- He was chief executive between 2003 and 2009, serving three leaders Charles Kennedy, Sir Menzies Campbell and Nick Clegg
- He stepped down from that role in 2009 citing ill health and the difficulties of managing a diabetic condition while working in such a demanding role
- He became a peer in 1999
Gareth Epps, who sits on the group, said some of his colleagues would find it "very difficult" to work with the peer.
"I think what we need is for Chris to go away and reflect, and that may well mean that he needs to absent himself from the policy-making process for a while," he said.
Bridget Harris, one of four party activists who made the allegations, has resigned from the party, saying it is in an "absolute mess", while others have threatened to do the same if the whip was restored.
Labour's deputy leader Harriet Harman said the women were being "hung out to dry" and only Mr Clegg could take decisive action.
"Nick Clegg must get off the fence otherwise it will send out a signal to any woman who suffers sexual harassment that she needn't bother to complain," she said.
Lib Dem Euro MP Chris Davies said the conduct Lord Rennard had been accused of would clearly be "inappropriate" but the Lib Dem peer had denied the allegations and it was not clear what he was being asked to apologise for.
"Chris Rennard has been through a year of hell," he said. "This is a good, decent man who is being punished by the party with a leadership that seems to be showing scant regard for due process and the presumption of innocence."
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