Carles Puigdemont

About

Carles Puigdemont i Casamajó is a prominent Catalan politician and journalist born on December 29, 1962, in Amer, Catalonia. He began his career as a journalist in 1982, working for local publications and later becoming the editor-in-chief of El Punt. His political involvement started early, joining the Democratic Convergence of Catalonia (CDC) in 1980. In 2006, he transitioned to politics full-time, becoming a member of the Parliament of Catalonia. Puigdemont served as Mayor of Girona from 2011 to 2016 and was elected as the 130th President of Catalonia in January 2016. He is known for his pro-independence stance and played a central role in Catalonia's 2017 independence referendum. Following the declaration of independence, he fled to Belgium to avoid legal action by the Spanish government. Despite his removal from office by Spain, Puigdemont remains a key figure in Catalan politics, advocating for independence and greater autonomy. He has been involved in various political roles and continues to influence Catalan politics from abroad.