Biography
Carles Puigdemont i Casamajó, born on December 29, 1962, in Amer, a small town in Catalonia's Girona province, started his career as a journalist. He worked for various Catalan media outlets, including El Punt newspaper, where he eventually became director. His journalism career ran alongside his growing interest in politics, focusing on Catalan independence and cultural preservation. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, he became a well-known voice in Catalan media while also building his political career locally.
Puigdemont entered municipal politics in 2006 as the mayor of Girona, holding the position until 2016. As mayor, he promoted Catalan language and culture and led the city through the economic challenges of the 2008 financial crisis. His leadership in Girona gained him recognition within the broader Catalan independence movement, positioning him as a candidate for higher office. He married Marcela Topor, a Romanian-born journalist and activist who also supported Catalan independence causes.
In January 2016, Puigdemont became President of the Generalitat of Catalonia after Artur Mas resigned. His presidency focused on holding an independence referendum, despite strong opposition from the Spanish government. On October 1, 2017, his administration held a referendum on Catalan independence, which the Spanish Constitutional Court had declared illegal. Despite significant interference from Spanish police, Puigdemont's government claimed victory for the independence option based on the results obtained.
After this, Puigdemont declared independence on October 27, 2017, leading the Spanish government to invoke Article 155 of the constitution to suspend Catalan autonomy. Facing potential arrest on charges of sedition and rebellion, Puigdemont fled to Belgium in October 2017, seeking political asylum. This marked the start of a long legal battle with Spanish authorities, who issued European arrest warrants that were eventually withdrawn or not executed by Belgian and German courts.
From Belgium, Puigdemont continued his political activities, founding the Together for Catalonia party and winning a seat in the European Parliament in 2019. His case highlighted the conflicts between Spanish central authority and Catalan autonomy aspirations, drawing international attention to the Catalan independence movement. Despite living in exile, he remained a key figure in Catalan politics and continued to advocate for independence across Europe.
Before Fame
Growing up in Amer during the last years of Franco's rule, Puigdemont saw the suppression of Catalan language and culture, which later influenced his political beliefs. He studied Catalan language and literature at the University of Girona and got involved in student activism and efforts to preserve culture. He started his journalism career in the 1980s, during Spain's move to democracy, when Catalan media was thriving after years of censorship.
His rise in prominence was closely linked with the Catalan cultural and political revival after Franco. As a journalist, he focused on local issues and became actively involved with grassroots movements pushing for more Catalan autonomy. His work at El Punt newspaper, which promoted Catalan identity and interests, helped establish him as a credible figure in the independence movement before he entered politics.
Key Achievements
- Served as President of Catalonia from 2016 to 2017
- Organized the October 1, 2017 Catalan independence referendum
- Mayor of Girona from 2011 to 2016
- Founded the Together for Catalonia political party
- Elected to the European Parliament in 2019
Did You Know?
- 01.He worked as a pastry chef before becoming a journalist and politician
- 02.His wife Marcela Topor is a former television presenter who holds both Romanian and Spanish citizenship
- 03.He was the first Catalan president to be removed from office through the activation of Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution
- 04.He owns a house in Waterloo, Belgium, the same town where Napoleon was defeated in 1815
- 05.He has written several books about Catalan culture and politics, including works on local Girona history