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149-589: Carles Puigdemont i Casamajó ( Catalan pronunciation: [ˈkarləs ˌpudʒðəˈmon i ˌkazəməˈʒo] ; born 29 December 1962) is a Catalan politician and journalist from Spain. He has been the President of Together for Catalonia (Junts) since 2024, having previously held the office from 2020 to 2022. He served as the 130th President of the Government of Catalonia from 2016 to 2017. His government held an independence referendum , which culminated in
298-540: A Catalan identity was increasingly suppressed in favor of a Spanish national identity. The Catalans regained autonomy during the Spanish Second Republic from 1932 until Francisco Franco 's nationalist forces occupied Catalonia by 1939. It was not until 1975 and the death of Franco that the Catalans as well as other Spaniards began to regain their right to cultural expression, which was restarted by
447-547: A World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Because of their intertwining history, many of the traditional symbols of Catalonia coincide with Aragon, Valencia and the Balearic Islands. The oldest known Catalan symbol is the coat of arms of the King of Aragon and Count of Barcelona, or bars of Aragon , one of Europe's oldest heraldic emblems; in modern times, Catalan nationalists have made it the main symbol of Catalan identity and it
596-576: A book. Historical memory is the second axis of celebrations in Catalonia, where the Catalan people reunite with their date of birth as a people. Among the religious celebrations, there are St. George's Day and the celebrations of Saint Vincent Martyr and Saint Anthony Abbot . The maximum expressions of this element are the Easter processions and performances of Passion Plays . Some festivals have
745-578: A coalition agreement before their meeting with the Sovereign. Title IV of the Constitution defines the Government and its responsibilities. The Government consists of the prime minister and the ministers. The government conducts domestic and foreign policy , civil and military administration, and the defense of the nation all in the name of the monarch on behalf of the people. Additionally,
894-731: A complicated relationship with religion, such as Carnival and the Dances of Death , or specific aspects of Christmas such as the Tió de Nadal or the caganer in Nativity scenes . Other key elements of a Catalan celebration are: food, central to every party and especially to the pig slaughter and harvest festivals; contests such as the castells (human towers), choice of major and festive floats; music, songs and bands; processions; dances; and animals, especially bulls and representations of mythological creatures. The Patum of Berga has been declared
1043-525: A deeper investigation into the possible criminal implications of such contacts. No conclusive evidence has been presented. In May 2024, Puigdemont pointed to the fact that Spain had decided to recognize Palestine but not Kosovo , "a country with which the European Union has diplomatic relations". He also accused Spain of helping Turkey "to suppress the Kurds". Puigdemont said that "Above all, Spain
1192-785: A defense of the right of self-determination. Both MEPs asked to join the Greens–European Free Alliance (EU parliament party political group); co-president Philippe Lamberts acknowledged the group considered the request a "problem" for them and, while entertaining internal debate in order to decide on the issue, Lamberts deemed the most logical outcome would be for them to join the group to which "their best Belgian friends" (the N-VA ) belong. Also in January 2020, Spanish Supreme Court judge Manuel Marchena proceeded to file an application before EP President David Sassoli in order to revoke
1341-597: A defiant speech at the Arc de Triomf in Barcelona advocating for Catalonia's right to self-determination before quickly disappearing, sparking a large-scale police operation. "Holding a referendum is not and will never be a crime," Puigdemont stated, before disappearing among the crowds. The Catalan police set up roadblocks and arrested an officer whose car was reportedly used in Puigdemont's escape, raising questions about
1490-545: A deputy in the Catalan parliament. On 12 July 2018, a German court decided that he could be extradited back to Spain for misuse of public funds, but not for the more serious charge of rebellion. Puigdemont's legal team said they would appeal any decision to extradite him. Following the German court decision, on 19 July 2018, Spain dropped the European arrest warrants against Puigdemont and other Catalan officials in self-exile. He
1639-609: A detention order of Puigdemont both in Europe and also reactivated an international detention order of Puigdemont in October 2019. On 20 December 2019, Puigdemont was accredited as an MEP after a ruling from the European Court of Justice said that he was permitted to take on his role as MEP. Puigdemont and Comín attended their first EP session on 13 January 2020 as non-attached members. Puigdemont's first intervention dealt with
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#17327652937161788-478: A dialog with them. On 12 July 2018 the higher court in Schleswig-Holstein confirmed that Puigdemont could not be extradited by the crime of rebellion, but may still be extradited based on charges of misuse of public funds. Puigdemont's legal team said they would appeal any decision to extradite him. Ultimately, though, Spain dropped its European arrest warrant, ending the extradition attempt. Puigdemont
1937-524: A failed motion of confidence, a motion of no confidence against the prime minister or the death of the prime minister. In the first three options, there is no succession, because the prime minister remains as caretaker prime minister until a new prime minister is elected by the Congress of Deputies. If the Prime Minister dies, the 1997 Government Act provides that the Prime Minister be succeeded by
2086-434: A local term seny meaning "common sense" or a pragmatic attitude toward life. The counterpart of Catalan "seny" is "rauxa" or madness, epitomized by "crazy", eccentric and creative Catalan artists like Antoni Gaudí , Salvador Dalí , Joan Miró or Antoni Tàpies . The masia or mas is a defining characteristic of the Catalan countryside and includes a large house, land, cattle, and an extended family, but this tradition
2235-502: A minority by adopting some aspects of the minor party platforms in an effort to attract them into parliamentary agreements to vote in the major party's favour, or at least abstain. The monarch's order nominating a prime ministerial candidate is countersigned by the Speaker of the Congress, who then presents the nominee before the Congress of Deputies in a process known as a parliamentary investiture ( Investidura parlamentaria ). During
2384-519: A night in prison, he was released without any precautionary measures. His parliamentary immunity was restored by European Court of Justice in May 2022. Puigdemont was born on 29 December 1962 in Amer , a village in the comarca of la Selva in the province of Girona in north-eastern Catalonia , Spain. The son of Francesc Xavier Puigdemont i Oliveras, a baker , and Francesc's wife Núria Casamajó i Ruiz, he
2533-523: A number of linguistic varieties that are considered dialects of Catalan , among them, the dialect group with the most speakers, Central Catalan . The total number of Catalan speakers is over 9.8 million (2011), with 5.9 million residing in Catalonia. More than half of them speak Catalan as a second language, with native speakers being about 4.4 million of those (more than 2.8 in Catalonia). Very few Catalan monoglots exist; basically, virtually all of
2682-428: A prime minister resigns without advising the monarch to call for new elections, dies or becomes incapacitated while in office, then the government as a whole resigns and the process of royal nomination and appointment takes place. The deputy prime minister , or in the absence of such office, the first minister by precedence, would then take over the day-to-day operations in the meantime as acting-prime minister, even while
2831-514: A prominent role and to be at the centre of the Catalan political scene. One day after his release, during a press conference Puigdemont announced that he would attend an oral hearing scheduled to take place on 4 October in the Sassari court, together with his lawyer Gonzalo Boye . On 8 August 2024, Puigdemont made a return to Spain after seven years in self-imposed exile in Belgium , delivering
2980-631: A request before the General Court of the European Union asking for precautionary measures against the decision of the European Parliament, which was dismissed. He spent much of the inaugural session of the European Parliament on 2 July 2019 in the German city of Kehl , across the Rhine from the seat of the European Parliament in the city of Strasbourg , located on French soil and avoided by Puigdemont. Judge Pablo Llarena has reactivated
3129-607: A result, he started working on application of new technologies in the provision of news and founded the Catalan News Agency (ACN) which was established by the Generalitat de Catalunya in 1999. Puigdemont also founded Catalonia Today , an English-language magazine. Puigdemont was director of ACN until 2002, when the then-president of the Diputació de Girona, Carles Pàramo, offered him the position of director of
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#17327652937163278-571: A short-lived Catalan rock band formed about 1980. On 2 February 2018, the Belgian commune of Waterloo confirmed that he had rented a villa and planned to establish his official residence there. Regional Catalans Catalans ( Catalan , French and Occitan : catalans ; Spanish : catalanes ; Italian : catalani ; Sardinian : cadelanos or catalanos ) are a Romance ethnic group native to Catalonia , who speak Catalan . The current official category of "Catalans"
3427-679: A slight scar on his face. It has been suggested that this explains his Beatle haircut but friends deny this. Puigdemont joined the El Punt , a pro-independence Catalan language newspaper, as a journalist in 1982. He rose through the ranks to become the paper's editor-in-chief . He also wrote a weekly column for the Presència magazine. He is a member of the Catalan Journalists Association. Beginning in 1988, Puigdemont started collecting references about Catalonia in
3576-617: A teenager, joining the nationalist Democratic Convergence of Catalonia (CDC), the predecessor to the PDeCAT , in 1980. He gave up journalism to pursue a career in politics in 2006 when he was elected as a member of the Parliament of Catalonia for the constituency of Girona . He was elected to the Municipality Council of Girona in 2007 and in 2011 he became Mayor of Girona . On 10 January 2016, following an agreement between
3725-614: A ten-hour hearing a Belgian judge released them all on bail. They were ordered not to leave Belgium without permission and had to provide details of their accommodation. On 5 December 2017 the Supreme Court of Spain withdrew the European Arrest Warrant (EAW) against Puigdemont and four others stating that EAW were not valid for alleged crimes committed by a wider group of people, e.g. the Catalan government. But judge Pablo Llarena [ ca ] warned that
3874-674: A vote boycotted by opposition MPs. Almost immediately the Senate of Spain invoked article 155 of the constitution, dismissing Puigdemont and the Catalan government and imposing direct rule on Catalonia. The following day Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy dissolved the Catalan Parliament and called for fresh regional elections on 21 December 2017. On 30 October 2017 Spanish Attorney General José Manuel Maza laid charges of rebellion , sedition and misuse of public funds at
4023-597: Is among the most industrialized metropolises. A regional capital, it is a magnet for domestic and foreign migrants. Fire is the element used in most important traditional festivals, which are derived from pagan roots. These celebrations have a high acceptance of fire between the Catalans, like the Flame of Canigó to the Bonfires of Saint John . An important and well-known celebration is La Diada de Sant Jordi , held on 23 April, in which men give women roses, and women give men
4172-509: Is dismissed from office the day after the election, but remains in office as a caretaker until his/her successor is sworn in. Following the general election and other circumstances provided for in the Constitution, the sovereign meets with the leaders of the parties represented in the Congress of Deputies, and then consults with the Speaker of the Congress of Deputies ( Spanish : Presidente de Congreso de los Diputados ) as representative of
4321-652: Is elected by the Congress of Deputies. In practice, the prime minister is almost always the leader of the largest party in the Congress, although not necessarily. The prime minister's official residence and office is Moncloa Palace in Madrid. Pedro Sánchez , of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), has been prime minister since 2 June 2018. He first came to power after a successful motion of no confidence against former prime minister Mariano Rajoy . Since then, Sánchez has led three governments,
4470-731: Is even associated with the Catalan language. As for anthems, "The Reapers" ( Els Segadors ) is the official national anthem of Catalonia and is also used in the other lands of the Principality; the Balanguera represents the people from the Balearic Islands and, in the case of Valencia, the official "Anthem of the Exhibition" ( Himne de l'Exposició ) alongside Muixeranga as symbols of the country. Prime Minister of Spain The prime minister of Spain , officially president of
4619-558: Is in decline as the nuclear family has largely replaced the extended family, as in the rest of western Europe. Catalonia in Spain is officially recognised as a " nationality " and enjoy a high degree of political autonomy, which has led to reinforcement of a Catalan identity. The Catalan language is a Romance language . It is the language closest to Occitan , and it also shares many features with other Romance languages such as Spanish, French, Portuguese, Aragonese , and Italian . There are
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4768-517: Is not granted, a second vote is scheduled forty-eight hours later in which a simple majority of votes cast (i.e., more "yes" than "no" votes) is required. Following the second vote, if confidence by the Congress is still not reached, then the monarch again meets with political leaders and the Speaker, and submits a new nominee for a vote of confidence (exceptionally, in 2016 King Felipe VI opted for not nominating more candidates and call for new elections ). If, within two months, no candidate has won
4917-487: Is not possible to determine when the position actually originated, the office of prime minister has evolved throughout history to what it is today. The role of prime minister (then called Secretary of State) as president of the Council of Ministers, first appears in a royal decree of 1824 by King Ferdinand VII . The current office was established during the reign of Juan Carlos I , in the 1978 Constitution , which describes
5066-462: Is part of the Mediterranean diet and includes the use of olive oil . Catalan people like to eat veal ( vedella ) and lamb ( xai ). There are three main daily meals: In Catalan gastronomy, embotits (a wide variety of Catalan sausages and cold meats) are very important; these are pork sausages such as botifarra or fuet . In the past, bread figured heavily in the Catalan diet; now it
5215-435: Is seen as a royal endorsement of the democratic process—a fundamental concept enshrined in the 1978 Constitution. The largest party can end up not ruling if rival parties form a coalition —as happened in 2018 with the election of PSOE leader Pedro Sánchez . More commonly, if neither of the two major parties ( Spanish Socialist Workers' Party is able to command an absolute majority of the Congress by themselves, one will rule as
5364-496: Is sometimes called ollada . Other Catalan dishes include calçots (a type of onions that are similar in shape to leeks , often grilled and eaten with a romesco sauce ) and escalivada . Catalan music has one of the oldest documented musical traditions in Europe. The traditional religion in Catalonia is Roman Catholicism . However, in the course of recent history , Catalonia has undergone several waves of secularization. The first wave of secularization happened during
5513-619: Is that of the citizens of Catalonia , a nationality and autonomous community in Spain and the inhabitants of the Roussillon historical region in southern France, today the Pyrénées Orientales department, also called Northern Catalonia and Pays Catalan in French. Some authors also extend the word "Catalans" to include all people from areas in which Catalan is spoken , namely those from Andorra , Valencia ,
5662-485: Is the country that suppressed the democratic referendum of Catalonia" on 1 October 2017. Puigdemont married Romanian journalist Marcela Topor in 2000. They have two daughters, Magali and Maria, and live in Girona. He speaks Catalan, English, French, Romanian and Spanish. Puigdemont is a supporter of Girona FC and FC Barcelona and plays rock guitar and the electric piano . As a teenager Puigdemont played bass in
5811-512: Is the second authority of the Kingdom of Spain, outranking all other State authorities except members of the royal family . In 2023, the Prime Minister received a salary of €90,010 and additional €13,422 as member of parliament. With this salary, the prime minister is not the highest paid official of Spain, being surpassed by other State authorities such as the royal family (the King , €269,296;
5960-618: Is the second of eight brothers. Puigdemont's maternal grandmother was Andalusian . Puigdemont's grandfather, who fought in the Spanish Civil War before fleeing to France, founded the Pastisseria Puigdemont in 1928. The Puigdemont family still owns the bakery located in Amer's main square. Puigdemont's great-grandfather and his uncle Josep Puigdemont were mayors of Amer and were supporters of Catalan independence , as
6109-445: Is used mainly in the morning (second breakfast, especially among young students and some workers) and supplements the noon meal, at home and in restaurants. Bread is still popular among Catalans; some Catalan fast-food restaurants don't serve hamburgers, but offer a wide variety of sandwiches. In the past, the poor ate soup every day and rice on Thursday and Sunday. The discipline of abstinence, not eating meat during Lent , once
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6258-425: The barretina (a sort of woollen, long cap usually red or purple) and the faixa (a sort of wide belt) among men, and ret (a fine net bag to contain hair) among women. The traditional footwear was the espardenya or espadrille . Other items of clothing typical of Catalan female folk costume include the 'pubilla' dress; the 'catalana' also known as the 'payesa' and the 'gandalla' as headwear. The Catalan diet
6407-497: The .cat TLD, the first Internet language-based top-level domain, was approved for all web pages intending to serve the needs of the Catalan linguistic and cultural community on the Internet. This community is made up of those who use the Catalan language for their online communication or promote the different aspects of Catalan culture online. The traditional dress (now practically only used in folkloric celebrations) included
6556-519: The 2010 , 2012 and 2015 regional elections, the latter as a Junts pel Sí (JxSí) electoral alliance candidate. Puigdemont contested the 2007 local elections as a CiU candidate in Girona and was elected but the CiU remained in opposition. At the 2011 local elections , in which Puigdemont was re-elected, the CiU ended the Socialists 's 32-year rule in Girona. Puigdemont became Mayor of Girona . He
6705-492: The Audiencia Nacional against Puigdemont and other members of the Catalan government. The charges carry maximum sentences of 30, 15 and 6 years in prison respectively. Puigdemont and five other Catalan ministers ( Dolors Bassa , Meritxell Borrás, Antoni Comín , Joaquim Forn and Meritxell Serret ) arrived in Belgium on 30 October 2017. According to Spanish media the group had driven to Marseille shortly after
6854-571: The Balearic Islands , eastern Aragon , Roussillon , and the city of Alghero in Sardinia . The Catalan government regularly surveys its population regarding its "sentiment of belonging". As of July 2019, the results point out that 46.7% of the Catalans and other people living in Catalonia would like independence from Spain, 1.3% less than the year before. In 1500 BCE the area that is now known primarily as Catalonia was, along with
7003-502: The Catalan independence referendum would be held on 1 October 2017. The Catalan Parliament passed legislation on 6 September 2017 authorising the referendum which would be binding and based on a simple majority without a minimum threshold. The following day, the Constitutional Court of Spain suspended the legislation, blocking the referendum. The Spanish government put into effect Operation Anubis in order to disrupt
7152-664: The Constitution of 1876 (article 54). With the fall of the First Republic and the restoration of the Bourbon dynasty on King Alfonso XII , the office maintained its original name until the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera , when it was renamed to President of the Military Directory . In 1925, the original name was restored again. The Republican Constitution of 1931 provided for the prime minister and
7301-639: The Council of Ministers Royal Decrees granting the degrees of Collar and Grand Cross, and all titles of the different degrees of the Royal Order must bear his signature and the monarch's. The last people to join the order were King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and his consort, Queen Maxima , who were awarded the collar and grand cross of the order, respectively, in March 2024 on the occasion of
7450-669: The Deputy Prime Minister and, if there is more than one, by the Deputy Prime Ministers, depending on their order. If there is no deputy prime minister, the Government Act establishes that the prime minister will be replaced by the ministers, according to the order of precedence of the Departments . This means that the first in the line of succession after the deputy prime ministers would be
7599-760: The Greeks that founded Empúries and the Phoenicians and Carthaginians , who set up colonies along the coast, including Barcino (present-day Barcelona). Following the Punic Wars , the Romans replaced the Carthaginians as the dominant power in the Iberian eastern coast, including parts of Catalonia, by 206 BCE. Rome established Latin as the official language and imparted a distinctly Roman culture upon
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#17327652937167748-427: The Junts pel Sí (JxSí), an electoral alliance led by the CDC, and the Popular Unity Candidacy (CUP), the Parliament of Catalonia elected Puigdemont as the 130th President of the Government of Catalonia. On 6–7 September 2017, he approved laws permitting an independence referendum and the juridical transition and foundation of a Republic , a legal framework superseding the Spanish Constitution to be put in place if
7897-437: The Minister of Foreign Affairs , followed by the Minister of Justice , the Minister of Defense and the Minister of Finance . These four ministers are the first and great offices created in 1714 by King Philip V . The Order of Charles III, officially the Royal and Distinguished Spanish Order of Charles III, was established in 1771 by King Charles III and is today the country's highest civil honor. The current regulation of
8046-409: The Nationalist Youth of Catalonia . In 1980 he joined the Democratic Convergence of Catalonia (CDC), a conservative Catalan nationalist political party. After school Puigdemont joined the University College of Girona to study Catalan philology but dropped out to pursue a career in journalism. In 1983, aged 21, Puigdemont was involved in a car accident which left him seriously injured and with
8195-544: The Oberlandesgericht (Higher State Court) in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein ruled that Puigdemont would not be extradited on charges of rebellion, and released him on bail while deliberating about the extradition on charges of misuse of public funds. According to that decision, Puigdemont was required to report to police once a week and could not leave Germany without permission of the public prosecutor. After his release, Puigdemont called on Spain's government to release Catalan separatists from imprisonment and establish
8344-437: The Queen , €148,105; and the Queen Mother , €121,186), the president of the Congress of Deputies (€230,931), the president of the Constitutional Court (€167,169), the president of the Supreme Court (€151,186) and the president of the Court of Auditors (€130,772), among others. The prime minister is constitutionally protected against ordinary prosecution. Although the Prime Minister does not have legal immunity like
8493-424: The Reconquista by Catalan forces over most of Catalonia by the year 801. As the border between Muslim and Frankish realms stabilized, Barcelona would become an important center for Christian forces in the Iberian Peninsula . In 1137, the County of Barcelona entered a dynastic union with the Kingdom of Aragon to form what modern historians call the Crown of Aragon in the so-called Reconquista . This allowed
8642-404: The Russian invasion of Ukraine , Puigdemont did not support the package of measures designed to aid Ukraine, as issued by the European Parliament. Some of Puigdemont's aides were previously reported to have links with the Kremlin, including with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov . In September 2021, the European Parliament, which had previously lifted the parliamentary immunity of Puigdemont, launched
8791-404: The Second Spanish Republic ended. Before 1834 the figure was known as " Secretary of State " ( Secretario de Estado ), a denomination used today for junior ministers . Spain was not unique in this regard: it was one of several European parliamentary systems, including France , Italy and the Irish Free State , that styled the head of government as 'presidents' of the government rather than
8940-429: The Spanish Constitution of 1978 . Since this period, a balance between a sense of Catalan national identity versus the broader Spanish one has emerged as the dominant political force in Catalonia. The former tends to advocate for even greater autonomy, national recognition and, part of it, independence; the latter tends to argue for maintaining either a status quo or removal of autonomy and cultural identity, depending on
9089-481: The Spanish government imposing direct rule on Catalonia, dismissing Puigdemont and the Catalan government . The Catalan Parliament was dissolved and the 2017 Catalan regional election was held. On 30 October 2017 charges of rebellion , sedition and misuse of public funds were brought against Puigdemont and other members of the Puigdemont Government . Puigdemont, along with others, fled to Belgium and European Arrest Warrants (EAW) were issued against them. At
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#17327652937169238-404: The Title of Concession creating the dignity must be countersigned by a government minister. When a title is created for a former prime minister, the succeeding prime minister customarily countersigns the royal decree. Although prior to the reign of Alfonso XIII many noble titles were granted —or the rank of those who already possessed it one was raised— to prime ministers and ministers (such as
9387-408: The 17th century as "principal minister or prime minister of Spain" ) although they can not be completely compared. On 19 November 1823, after a brief liberal democratic period called the Liberal Triennium between 1820 and 1823, King Ferdinand VII re-established the absolute monarchy and created the Council of Ministers that continues to exist today. This council, when not chaired by the monarch,
9536-411: The 1980s. During the 1990s most of the population of Catalonia was non-practising Catholic. Nowadays 52.4% of Catalans declare themselves Catholic, practising or not, 30.2% of Catalans are agnostic or atheist , and there is also a considerable share of other religions, often connected to recent immigration: 7.3% Muslim , 2.5% Evangelical , 1.3% Buddhism , and 1.2% Orthodox Christians . According to
9685-405: The 402nd Air Force Squadron (helicopters). The Parliament, and thus, the Government, sit for a term no longer than four years. Before that date, the prime minister may offer his resignation to the sovereign. If the Prime Minister does so while advising the monarch to dissolve parliament, the sovereign will call for a snap election , but no sooner than a year after the prior general election. If
9834-438: The April 2019 arrest of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange inside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, Puigdemont said that "Human rights, and especially freedom of expression, are under attack once again in Europe." Puigdemont was placed first on the Lliures per Europa [ es ] list for the 2019 European Parliament election in Spain and he was elected member of the European Parliament. However, he refused to attend
9983-399: The Catalan independence leader" after Sahrawi President Brahim Ghali was allowed to go to Spain to get treated for COVID-19 . On 23 September 2021, Puigdemont was arrested at the Alghero–Fertilia Airport by the Italian police after getting off a flight from Brussels . The arrest took place following a Spanish Supreme Court European Arrest Warrant issued in 2019. At a court hearing
10132-400: The Catalan speakers in Spain are bilingual speakers of Catalan and Spanish, with a sizable population of Spanish-only speakers of immigrant origin (typically born outside Catalonia or with both parents born outside Catalonia) existing in the major Catalan urban areas as well. In Roussillon , only a minority of French Catalans speak Catalan nowadays, with French being the majority language for
10281-465: The Congress for a vote of confidence . In constitutional matters, the primacy of the prime minister over the ministers is also evident, since the prime ministers alone is responsible for the government initiative to challenge the constitutionality of a law . The Office of the Prime Minister ( Spanish : Presidencia del Gobierno , lit. ' Presidency of the Government ' ) is the combination of government departments and services that are at
10430-405: The Congress' right to withdraw confidence from the government, the Cortes Generales has two ways of forcing the prime minister's resignation: passing a motion of no confidence or rejecting a motion of confidence. In the first case, and following the German model, a prime minister can only be removed by a constructive vote of no confidence . While the Congress can censure the government at any time,
10579-417: The Constitution vests the monarch as the "arbitrator and moderator of the institutions" of government, [The King] arbitrates and moderates the regular functioning of the institutions ( arbitra y modera el funcionamiento regular de las instituciones ). This provision could be understood as allowing the monarch or his government ministers to exercise emergency authority in times of national crisis, such as when
10728-615: The Dukedom of Prim —granted to the daughter of late prime minister Juan Prim — or the Dukedom of Castillejos —awarded to the other son of the aforementioned prime minister—), it was not until this historical period when it became customary, since King Alfonso XIII granted a total of sixteen of these dignities to former prime ministers or their relatives during his reign. Of these, four were dukedoms (granted to relatives of assassinated prime ministers), three were marquessates and two counties, as well as seven grandships were granted. Likewise,
10877-624: The European Union (EU) to be a "club of decadent and obsolescent countries" that was "controlled by a small few", also suggesting that Catalonia should be allowed to vote on its exit from the EU if Catalans wanted it. Although he openly supports the EU and euro, he has supported the idea that "we should work to change it". He has rejected an EU which does not protect human rights and the right of representation. He has denied being "europhobic", and he has referred to himself and his party not as eurosceptic but as "euro-demanding". On 17 February 2022, days before
11026-508: The Executive Power and was also head of state . In 1874, the office name reverted to President of the Council of Ministers . Since its inception, the prime minister has been appointed and dismissed by the will of the monarch. Successive constitutions have confirmed this royal prerogative of the monarch in the Constitution of 1837 (article 47), article 46 of the Constitution of 1845 , the Constitution of 1869 (article 68), and
11175-577: The Girona cultural centre, the Casa de Cultura, a position he held until 2004. Puigdemont left journalism to devote himself fully to politics in 2006 when the Convergence and Union (CiU) electoral alliance invited him to be a candidate for the Parliament of Catalonia . Puigdemont contested the 2006 regional election as a CiU candidate in the Province of Girona and was elected. He was re-elected at
11324-486: The Government (Spanish: Presidente del Gobierno ), is the head of government of Spain . The prime minister nominates the ministers and chairs the Council of Ministers . In this sense, the prime minister establishes the Government policies and coordinates the actions of the Cabinet members. As chief executive, the prime minister also advises the monarch on the exercise of their royal prerogatives . Although it
11473-566: The Government" ( Spanish : Presidente del Gobierno ). Not only is this term confusing for English speakers because Spain is not a republic, but because the parliamentary speakers are also referred to as presidents of their respective chambers. For example, both President George W. Bush and his brother, Florida governor Jeb Bush , referred to José María Aznar as "president" on separate occasions, and Donald Trump referred to Mariano Rajoy both as "President" and "Mr. President" during Rajoy's 2017 White House visit. While this term of address
11622-753: The Ministry of the Presidency. The Cabinet Office, through the General Secretariat of the Presidency of the Government, is responsible for the protocol and security affairs. Within the General Secretariat, there is a Department of Security of the Presidency of the Government (DSPG) that coordinates the efforts of the National Police Corps and the Civil Guard in the protection of the Prime Minister and his family, as well as
11771-779: The State visit of the Spanish monarchs to the Netherlands. Upon retirement, it is customary for the monarch to grant a prime minister some honour or dignity. The honour bestowed is commonly the Collar of the Order of Isabella the Catholic , the second highest civil honor, while the ministers receive the Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III (the highest civil distinction). This is because
11920-460: The Westminster term of 'prime minister' (see President of the Council for the full list of corresponding terms). However the term ' president ' is far older. Since the 15th century, the Spanish monarchs has delegated its executive powers in relevant personalities. Two are the most important: the validos and the secretaries of state . The validos , which existed since early 15th century to
12069-412: The act in question. In these sense, the Constitution grants the prime minister the initiative to request the monarch for calling a referendum , for calling for new elections or for dissolving any of the legislative chambers. In Spain, the government ministers cannot force the prime minister resignation and this idea is reinforced when the Constitution grants the prime minister the sole initiative to request
12218-729: The act of observance of the Spanish Constitution before the Junta Electoral Central in Madrid, a requirement to acquire a certificate as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP). The consequential absence of Puigdemont and Toni Comín in the list of certificated Spanish MEPs was communicated to them by the president of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani through a letter; the letter also explained that, therefore, he could not address them as MEPs. Puigdemont and Comín filed
12367-489: The austerity cuts under his government, Puigdemont was elected the 130th President of Catalonia on 10 January 2016. He resigned as Mayor of Girona on 11 January 2016 as no-one is allowed to be a regional president and a municipal mayor at the same time. He was the first president of Catalonia to refuse to take the oath of loyalty to the Spanish constitution and the Spanish monarch . In June 2017 Puigdemont announced that
12516-654: The autonomous community of Catalonia, in the northeast part of Spain. At least 100,000 Catalan speakers live in the Pays Catalan in France. An indeterminate number of Catalans emigrated to the Americas during the Spanish colonial period and to France in the years following the Spanish Civil War . Described by author Walter Starkie in The Road to Santiago as a subtle people, he sums up their national character with
12665-454: The censure motion must also include the name of a prospective replacement for the incumbent prime minister. If the censure motion is successful, the replacement candidate is automatically deemed to have the confidence of the Congress, and the monarch is required to appoint them as the new prime minister. As of 2023, only Pedro Sánchez managed to remove a sitting prime minister with a vote of no confidence in 2018 , making him prime minister. In
12814-472: The charges were laid before the Audiencia Nacional and from there flown to Brussels . Puigdemont claimed that he had gone to "the capital of Europe" to speak from a position of "freedom and safety" and that he would not return to Spain unless he was guaranteed a fair trial . Earlier Belgium's Secretary of State for Asylum, Migration and Administrative Simplification Theo Francken had stated that
12963-465: The confidence of the Congress then the monarch dissolves the Cortes and calls for a new general election. The monarch's royal decree is countersigned by the Speaker of the Congress. After the nominee is confirmed, the Speaker of the Congress formally reports the fact to the sovereign. The monarch then appoints the candidate as the new prime minister and this too is countersigned by the Speaker. During
13112-609: The day after his arrest, he was released without any precautionary measures, in line with the Italian prosecutor's request. The purpose of the trip was to meet with Algheresi authorities and Sardinian separatist and at the same time to attend the Aplec International in Adifolk which was to take place in the "Barceloneta of Sardinia" between 24 and 26 September. The announcement of the arrest prompted Puigdemont to regain
13261-466: The deputy prime minister themselves may be nominated by the monarch and stand for a vote of confidence. Also, if at the conclusion of the four years, the prime minister has not asked for its dissolution, according to Title II Section 56, the monarch must dissolve the Parliament and call for a new general election. Although the prime minister's position is strengthened by constitutional limits on
13410-428: The duties of the office of Prime Minister with loyalty to the King, obey and enforce the Constitution as the main law of the State, and preserve in secret the deliberations of the Council of Ministers . Once appointed, the prime minister forms his government whose ministers are appointed and removed by the monarch on the prime minister's advice. In the political life of Spain, the monarch would already be familiar with
13559-539: The eighteenth century as a result of the enlightenment influence to the bourgeoisie . The second one happened during the nineteenth century, that had a huge impact on the lower and middle class , but was interrupted by the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939). The end of the Francoist regime led to a loss of power by the Catholic Church and to another wave of secularization that extends since
13708-427: The election Puigdemont called for new unconditional talks with the Spanish government and that he was willing to meet Rajoy outside of Spain. Rajoy rejected the offer, saying that he was only willing to speak with the leader of the Catalan government, whom he considered to be Inés Arrimadas , leader of the unionist Citizens , the largest single party in the Catalan Parliament. On 23 February 2018, Puigdemont's portrait
13857-743: The fifth century, making their first capital in the Iberian peninsula Barcelona, and they later would move to Toledo. This continued until 718 when Muslim Arabs took control of the region in order to pass through the Pyrenees into French territory. With the help of the Franks, a land border was created commonly known nowadays as Old Catalonia (which would consist of the counties County of Barcelona , Ausona , County of Pallars , County of Rosselló , County of Empúries , County of Cerdanya and County of Urgell ) which faced Muslim raids but resisted any kind of settlement from them. The southern New Catalonia
14006-560: The force's involvement. This incident coincided with the investiture of Salvador Illa as the new Catalan president , marking a shift in the region's political focus from sovereignty to social issues. Puigdemont's reappearance and subsequent disappearance have further complicated the political landscape, drawing sharp criticism from opposition leaders who view the event as damaging to Spain's image. Alberto Núñez Feijóo described Puigdemont's stunt as "an unbearable humiliation", and Santiago Abascal from Vox described it as "the destruction of
14155-402: The government exercises executive authority and statutory regulations. The main collective decision-making body of the Government is the Council of Ministers , chaired by the prime minister and, after a formal request by the Prime Minister, by the monarch . There is no provision in the Spanish Constitution for explicitly granting any emergency powers to the government. However, Section 56 of
14304-551: The government ministers since, at least, the 18th century, and in the case of the prime minister, this treatment is reinforced as member of the Order of Charles III , whose article 13 states that "the Knights and the Dames of the Collar, as well as the Knights and Dames Grand Cross, will receive the treatment of Most Excellent Lord and Most Excellent Lady". The Spanish Constitution foresee the office of deputy prime minister and also
14453-628: The immunity of Puigdemont and Comín. Later in January 2020, just hours before the scheduled internal vote among the Greens/ALE MEPs on the request filed by Puigdemont and Comín to join the Greens/ALE group, both Puigdemont and Comín withdrew their application. On 30 April 2021, Morocco granted Puigdemont asylum. According to a source from the Moroccan foreign ministry, the decision was made in due to "the principle of reciprocity to host
14602-531: The imposition of absolutism and the abolition of Catalan political institutions and public law, thus ending the status of Catalonia as a separate state within a personal union. During the Napoleonic Wars , much of Catalonia was seized by French forces by 1808, as France ruled the entire country of Spain briefly until Napoleon 's surrender to Allied Armies. In France, strong assimilationist policies integrated many Catalans into French society, while in Spain
14751-637: The infraestructure and personnel of the Moncloa Government Complex . The vehicles used by the Prime Minister are provided by the State Vehicle Fleet (PME), an autonomous agency of the Ministry of Finance that provides the government with all type of vehicles and well-trained drivers. The air transportation of the Prime Minister and other government officials is mainly provided by the 45th Air Force Group (planes) and
14900-515: The inhabitants after a continued process of language shift . According to a 2019 survey by the Catalan government, 31.5% of the inhabitants of Catalonia have Catalan as first language at home whereas 52.7% have Spanish, 2.8% both Catalan and Spanish and 10.8% other languages. The inhabitants of the Aran valley count Aranese –an Occitan dialect–rather than Catalan as their own language. These Catalans are also bilingual in Spanish. In September 2005,
15049-533: The international press, material that resulted in the publication of the 1994 book Cata... què? Catalunya vista per la premsa internacional ("Cata...what? Catalonia as seen by the foreign press"). During the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona Puigdemont was a member of an organisation supporting Catalan nationalists detained as part of " Operation Garzón ". In the 1990s Puigdemont took a year off work to study linguistic policies elsewhere in Europe. As
15198-406: The investiture proceedings, the candidate describes their political agenda in an Investiture Speech to be debated and submitted for a vote of confidence ( Cuestión de confianza ) by the Congress, effecting an indirect election of the head of government. Confidence is awarded if the candidate receives a majority of votes in the first poll (currently 176 out of 350 MPs), but if the confidence
15347-508: The late 17th century were people of the highest confidence of the monarchs and they exercised the Crown's power in the monarch's name. Since the 18th century, the validos disappeared and the secretaries of state were introduced. Both positions were de facto prime ministers (as demonstrated by the fact that since the tenure of the count-duke of Olivares , valido of Felipe IV , the validos were often called by courtiers and authors already in
15496-613: The late Middle Ages , the loss of hegemony within the Crown, as well as urban and feudal internal conflicts led to the Catalan Civil War in 1462. In the last quarter of the 15th century, the marriage of Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon led to the dynastic union of the Crown of Aragon with the Crown of Castille , in which each of the constitutive realm kept its own laws, policies, power structures, borders and monetary systems. Continuous unrest led to conflicts on
15645-415: The leanings of the current government. As a result, there tends to be much fluctuation depending on regional and national politics during a given election cycle. Given the stronger centralist tendencies in France, however, French Catalans display a much less dynamic sense of uniqueness, having been integrated more consistently into the unitary French national identity. The vast majority of Catalans reside in
15794-619: The local population, which merged with Roman colonists from the Italian peninsula . An early precursor to the Catalan language began to develop from a local form of popular Latin before and during the collapse of the Roman Empire . Various Germanic tribes arrived following nearly six centuries of Roman rule, which had completely transformed the area into the Roman province of Tarraconensis . The German Visigoths established themselves in
15943-515: The monarch also rewarded with numerous golden fleeces . King Juan Carlos I wanted to restore this tradition and, therefore, as a reward for their service, the last noble titles granted (both with grandship) were those of Adolfo Suárez (to whom the golden fleece was also awarded in 2007 ), who was created Duke of Suárez in 1981 and Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo , created Marquess of the Ría de Ribadeo [ es ] in 2002, twenty years after holding
16092-452: The monarch used his authority to back the government of the day and call for the military to abandon the 23-F coup attempt in 1981. The prime minister also assumes political responsibility for most acts of the sovereign. While the monarch is vested with executive power, his acts are not valid unless countersigned by a minister. Under Article 64 of the Constitution, that minister—usually the prime minister—assumes political responsibility for
16241-681: The monarch, the prime minister, as well as the members of the Royal Family, the Government, the Congress of Deputies and the Senate, can only be criminally responsible before the Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court ( Spanish Constitution, Part IV § 102 ). Although it is not formally regulated, Spanish custom establishes that the prime minister receives the treatment of The Most Excellent ( Spanish : Excelentísimo Señor, f. Excelentísima Señora ). This treatment has been customary for
16390-485: The most recent study sponsored by the government of Catalonia , as of 2016, 61.9% of the Catalans identify as Christians , up from 56.5% in 2014. At the same time, 16.0% of the population identify as atheists , 11.9% as agnostics , 4.8% as Muslims , 1.3% as Buddhists , and a further 2.4% as being of other religions. Catalonia is one of the richest and most developed regions in Southern Europe . Barcelona
16539-437: The most—along with Adolfo Suárez —just behind fellow socialist Felipe González , prime minister from 1982 to 1996. King Felipe VI re-appointed Sánchez for the third time on 17 November 2023 after he reached a coalition agreement with Sumar and gathered the support of other minor parties. His third government took office on 21 November 2023. The Spanish head of government has been known, since 1939, as "President of
16688-423: The national arrest warrants remain valid, meaning that the group risked arrest if they returned to Spain. While remaining self-exiled , Puigdemont contested the 2017 regional election as a Together for Catalonia (JuntsxCat) electoral alliance candidate in the Province of Barcelona and was re-elected to Parliament. At the election Catalan secessionists retained a slim majority in the Catalan Parliament. After
16837-459: The oath of office next to religious symbols: Pedro Sánchez , along with most of his Cabinet members. His predecessor, Mariano Rajoy , a Catholic, put his right hand on the Constitution and, at the same time, his left hand on the Bible. As per tradition, if the members of the government choose not to take the oath along with any religious symbols, they use the word "prometo" ("I promise"), whereas if
16986-433: The office acquired the current name, President of the Government, but between that date and 1973 the office was held by Francisco Franco as dictator of Spain. In 1973, Francisco Franco separated the head of state from the head of government, and that division still exists today, with the prime minister democratically elected by the Parliament which is itself elected by universal suffrage, free and equal. Adolfo Suárez
17135-596: The order, established in October 2002, states that the prime minister is the Grand Chancellor of the Order (second to the Grand Master, the Monarch ). Upon taking office, the new prime minister shall be invested with the degree of Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Order and with this rank he will act as Grand Chancellor of the same. It is responsibility of the Grand Chancellor to submit to the approval of
17284-433: The organisation of the referendum and arrested Catalan government officials. Despite this the referendum went ahead though it was boycotted by opponents of secessionism and turnout was only 43%. Among those who voted 92% supported independence. Around 900 people were injured as the Spanish police used violence to try to prevent voting in the referendum. On 27 October 2017 the Catalan Parliament declared independence in
17433-758: The position changed names frequently. After the Glorious Revolution of 1868 , it was renamed President of the Provisional Revolutionary Joint and later President of the Provisional Government . In 1869, the office resumed the name of President of the Council of Ministers . Following the abdication of King Amadeus I , during the First Republic (1873–1874) the office was known as the President of
17582-768: The possibility of having more than one deputy prime minister. Although the position of deputy prime minister has existed intermittently since 1840, the Constitution endorses what was established in the Organic Act of the State of 1967, which provided for the first time the possibility of appointing more than one deputy and, in 1974, this provision became effective when Prime Minister Carlos Arias Navarro appointed three deputies ( José García Hernández , Antonio Barrera de Irimo and Licinio de la Fuente ). Since then, three more prime ministers ( Adolfo Suárez , José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and Pedro Sánchez ) have had more than one deputy. The second government of Pedro Sánchez holds
17731-401: The prime minister is, since he is appointed as such by the sovereign, a Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III, for which he is awarded the next highest distinction. In addition to these honors, the monarch might offer the former prime minister a peerage , being the highest marks of distinction that he may bestow in his capacity as the fons honorum in Spain. Conventionally,
17880-530: The prime minister's constitutional role and powers, how the prime minister accedes to, and is removed from office, and the relationship between the prime minister and Parliament. Upon a vacancy, the monarch nominates a candidate for a vote of confidence by the Congress of Deputies , the lower house of the Cortes Generales . The process is a parliamentary investiture by which the head of government
18029-469: The prospect of Puigdemont being granted asylum was "not unrealistic". On 3 November 2017 a Spanish judge issued European Arrest Warrants against Comín, Clara Ponsatí i Obiols , Lluís Puig , Puigdemont and Serret after they failed to attend a high court hearing in Madrid the previous day. On 5 November 2017 the five politicians, accompanied by their lawyers, surrendered to the Belgian police , but after
18178-528: The reclamation of Muslim-dominated lands, eventually conquering the kingdoms of Valencia and Majorca (the Balearic Islands ). From the 13th century onwards, the territory of the County of Barcelona and the other Catalan counties progressively began to be identified as a single political entity and, from the mid-14th century, that polity began to be known as the Principality of Catalonia . The crisis of
18327-408: The record for most deputies, appointing four. This large number of deputy prime ministerships was interpreted as a maneuver to reduce the political weight of his second deputy prime minister and leader of the minority party in the coalition, Pablo Iglesias Turrión . According to article 101 of the Spanish Constitution, the prime minister and its government only ceases in the cases of resignation,
18476-497: The referendum supported independence. On 1 October 2017, the Catalan independence referendum was held in Catalonia despite the suspension of the laws by the Constitutional Court of Spain . Polling stations were partially closed and some saw the use of excessive force by the National Police Corps and Civil Guard . A total 43% of Catalan citizens voted in the referendum, 92% of them supporting independence. The Catalan Parliament declared independence on 27 October 2017 which resulted in
18625-575: The regional elections held on 21 December 2017, Puigdemont's party, Together for Catalonia , was second, and Catalan secessionists retained a slim majority of seats and 47.6% of votes. Puigdemont called for fresh talks with the then Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy but these were rejected. Puigdemont remained in Belgium to avoid arrest if he returned to Spain, with this situation being defined as exile by some, self-imposed exile by some others, and also as fugitive from justice. On 25 March 2018, he
18774-524: The rest of the Iberian Peninsula , inhabited by Proto-Celtic Urnfield people who brought with them the rite of burning the dead. Much of the Pyrenees mountains was inhabited at the time by peoples related to modern Basques , and today many town names in the western Catalan Pyrenees can be linked to Basque etymologies. These groups came under the rule of various invading groups starting with
18923-583: The rest of the government to be appointed and dismissed by the President of the Republic but they were responsible before the Parliament and the Parliament could vote to dismiss the prime minister or a minister even against the will of the president of the republic. In the Civil War , the head of government among the Nationalists was called Chief of the Government of the State and since January 1938
19072-600: The rest remained under Spanish Crown. The Catalan government took sides with the Habsburg pretender against the Bourbon one during the War of the Spanish Succession that started in 1705 and ended in 1714. The Catalan failure to defend the continuation of Habsburg rule in Spain culminated in the surrender of Barcelona on 11 September 1714 which came to be commemorated as Catalonia's National Day . The surrender led to
19221-419: The second case, the prime minister, after deliberation by the Council of Ministers , can propose a vote of confidence regarding the government's policies in Congress. If Congress does not give the prime minister its confidence, the prime minister must resign. As of 2023, only prime minister Adolfo Suárez in 1980 and Felipe González in 1990 proposed a vote of confidence, both successfully. The Prime Minister
19370-500: The service of the Prime Minister to fulfill its constitutional duties. It was established around 1834 when officials and budget began to be assigned to the personal Secretariat of the Prime Minister. Today, it acts as a ministerial department , although it is not formally one of them, and approximately 2,000 people work there. The Prime Minister's Office principal departments are: The autonomous agency Patrimonio Nacional , which manages Crown properties, depends on this Office through
19519-410: The state beamed live on Spanish television". One of the founders of the youth organization of the right-of-centre Democratic Convergence of Catalonia (CDC) in the province of Girona, Puigdemont has associated himself since then with the most staunchly pro-independence faction in the party. His tenure as mayor in Girona was characterised by liberal economic policies . In 2017, Puigdemont considered
19668-744: The states of the Crown of Aragon, such as the Revolt of the Germanies in Valencia and Majorca, and the 1640 revolt in Catalonia known as the Reapers' War . This latter conflict embroiled Spain in a larger war with France as the Catalan institutions allied themselves with Louis XIII . The war continued until 1659 and ended with the Peace of the Pyrenees , which effectively partitioned the Principality of Catalonia as its northern strip came under French rule, while
19817-542: The swearing-in ceremony presided over by the monarch, customarily at the Audience Hall of the Royal Palace of Zarzuela , the prime minister–designate takes an oath of office over an open Constitution and—at choice since 2014 —next to a Bible and a crucifix . The prime minister must take the oath or affirmation placing the right hand on the Constitution. Currently, only one prime minister has refused to take
19966-528: The take the oath with the Bible, they use the word "juro" ("I swear"). The oath as taken by Prime Minister Zapatero on his first term in office on 17 April 2004 was: Juro/Prometo, por mi conciencia y honor, cumplir fielmente las obligaciones del cargo de Presidente del Gobierno con lealtad al Rey, guardar y hacer guardar la Constitución como norma fundamental del Estado, así como mantener el secreto de las deliberaciones del Consejo de Ministros. I swear/promise, under my conscience and honor, to faithfully execute
20115-565: The unsuccessful Declaration of independence of Catalonia and his removal from office. He then served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from 2019 to 2024. After education in Amer and Girona, he became a journalist in 1982, writing for various local publications and becoming editor-in-chief of El Punt . He was the director of the Catalan News Agency from 1999 to 2002 and the director of Girona's House of Culture from 2002 to 2004. Puigdemont's family were supporters of Catalan independence and Puigdemont became involved in politics as
20264-446: The various political leaders in a professional capacity, and perhaps less formally in a more social capacity, facilitating their meeting following a general election. Conversely, nominating the party leader whose party maintains a plurality and who are already familiar with their party manifesto facilitates a smoother nomination process. In the event of coalitions , the political leaders would customarily have met beforehand to hammer out
20413-488: The whole of parliament), before nominating a candidate for the prime ministership. This process is spelled out in Section 99 of the Constitution. By political custom established by Juan Carlos I since the ratification of the 1978 Constitution, the sovereign's nominees have usually been from parties who have a plurality of seats in the Congress (i.e. the largest party). Although there is no legal requirement for this, it
20562-651: Was Puigdemont's father Xavier. Puigdemont received basic education in Amer before, aged nine, he was sent to study at the Church-run Santa Maria del Collell boarding school in Girona where he was taught in Spanish and "learned to be a fighter". At the age of 16 he was already a reporter for the Diari de Girona newspaper, writing articles on football and other news. As a teenager Puigdemont attended political meetings with his uncle Josep and helped found
20711-463: Was chaired by the secretary of state for foreign affairs ( Spanish : Secretario de Estado y del Despacho de Estado ), who acted as prime minister. This role was ratified by the Royal Statute of 1834 , which constitutionalized for the first time the figure of the prime minister under the name of "President of the Council of Ministers", invested with executive powers. During the 19th century,
20860-480: Was detained by the Autobahnpolizei (highway patrol) acting on his European Arrest Warrant in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein . He was released on bail, with the state high court deciding he could not be extradited for "rebellion" as German law does not coincide with Spanish law on the definition thereof, a requirement of his EAW. On 10 July 2018 a Spanish Supreme Court judge suspended him as
21009-476: Was elected as a Member of the European Parliament after the 2019 European Parliament election in Spain . In March 2021, the European Parliament voted to lift his parliamentary immunity. On 23 September 2021, it was reported that he had been arrested by police in Sardinia , Italy, acting on a tip-off and was being asked to be transferred to Spain under the terms of a European arrest warrant. After
21158-576: Was no longer seeking re-election as leader of Catalonia. Later he announced the creation of a government-in-exile organization named "Council of the Republic". On 25 March 2018, while returning to Brussels from a trip to Finland , Puigdemont was stopped in Germany near the Danish border and arrested pursuant to the European warrant that had been reissued against him two days previously. On 5 April 2018,
21307-459: Was not incorrect, it could be misleading to English speakers so prime minister is commonly used as a culturally equivalent term to ensure clarity. Use of the term "president" dates back to 1834 and the regency of Maria Christina when, styled after the head of government of the French July Monarchy (1830), the official title was the "President of the Council of Ministers" ( Presidente del Consejo de Ministros ). This remained until 1939, when
21456-575: Was once again free to travel, and chose to return to Belgium. In January 2019 Puigdemont filed a constitutional application for amparo directed against the president of the Catalan parliament, Roger Torrent and the Board of the Chamber . The complaint, presented to the Spanish Constitutional Court , argued Puigdemont had been denied the use of his political rights as Torrent did not allow him to delegate his vote from Belgium after Puigdemont's criminal indictment and suspension of his parliamentary condition by Supreme Court judge Pablo Llarena. Following
21605-408: Was ordered to be removed from Santiago Sierra 's “Contemporary Spanish Political Prisoners ” exhibition in Madrid. On 1 March 2018, Puigdemont was hoping to be selected by the Catalan Parliament as President of Catalonia again, but the Catalan Parliament heeded warnings from Spain's judiciary and postponed the session in which Puigdemont could be selected. Subsequently, Puigdemont announced that he
21754-409: Was re-elected at the 2015 local elections . He was a member of executive committee of the Association of Municipalities for Independence and in July 2015 succeeded Josep Maria Vila d'Abadal as its chair. Following a last-minute agreement between pro-Catalan independence parties Junts pel Sí and Popular Unity Candidacy to replace Artur Mas due in part to the various alleged cases of corruption and
21903-423: Was the first democratically elected prime minister of the post-Franco government. He was originally appointed by King Juan Carlos I on 3 July 1976, and he was confirmed in the office by popular vote after the 1977 Spanish general election . Once a general election has been called by the monarch , political parties designate their candidates to stand for prime minister—usually the party leader. A prime minister
22052-409: Was under Arab/Muslim rule for about 4-5 centuries. The Franks on the other side of the Pyrenees held back the main Muslim raiding army which had penetrated virtually unchallenged as far as central France at the Battle of Tours in 732. Frankish suzerainty was then extended over much of present-day Catalonia. Larger wars with the Muslims began in the March of Barcelona which led to the beginnings of
22201-450: Was very strong, but today it is only practiced in the rural areas. Spicy food is rare in the Catalan diet but there are quite garlicky sauces such as allioli or romesco . One type of Catalan dish is escudella , a soup which contains chick peas, potatoes, and vegetables such as green cabbage, celery, carrots, turnips, and meats such as botifarra (a Catalan sausage), pork feet, salted ham, chicken, and veal. In Northern Catalonia, it
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