Carles Puigdemont entered public life as a journalist in 1982, eventually transitioning into a career that placed him at the centre of Catalan constitutional challenges. Over four decades, he evolved from a reporter at El Punt to serving as the 130th President of the Generalitat of Catalonia, managing roles across local, regional, and European legislative bodies.
Early Career and Journalism
Born in 1962 in Amer, Puigdemont spent his early career working in media and cultural administration. He held positions at El Punt starting in 1982 and later served as director of the Agència Catalana de Notícies from 1999 to 2002. Following this, he managed the Casa de Cultura de Girona between 2002 and 2004, and later directed Catalonia Today from 2004 to 2006. His literary output includes the titles Cata… què?, The Catalan Crisis, and M’explico. De la investidura a l’exili.
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Puigdemont’s parliamentary career began with his election as a Member of the Parliament of Catalonia, where he served three distinct terms between 2006 and 2015. During this period, he was affiliated with the Nationalist Youth of Catalonia and the Democratic Convergence of Catalonia. His executive tenure as President of the Generalitat of Catalonia occurred from 2016 to 2017, a time marked by significant institutional tension regarding the Spanish constitutional order.
International Representation and Exile
Following the events of 2017, Puigdemont conducted activities from bases in Argelès-sur-Mer and the Casa de la República in Belgium. He assumed the role of president of the Council for the Republic in 2018. His later career involved serving as a Member of the European Parliament from 2019 to 2024. In 2024, he assumed the position of president of Junts per Catalunya.
Fast facts
- Born: 1962, Amer, Spain
- Religion: Agnosticism
- Languages: Catalan, Spanish, English, French, Romanian
- President of the Generalitat of Catalonia: 2016-2017
- Member of the European Parliament: 2019-2024
- President of Junts per Catalunya: 2024
- Academic qualification: Secondary school
Questions readers ask
What organisations is he associated with?
He is a member of the Association of Catalan Journalists, the Nationalist Youth of Catalonia, and the Council for the Republic.
Where has he worked?
His professional life has been based primarily in Catalonia, specifically Barcelona and Girona, with later work occurring in Argelès-sur-Mer and at the Casa de la República in Belgium.
Achievements
- Member of the Parliament of Catalonia (2006–2010)
- city councillor of Girona (2007–2016)
- mayor of Girona (2011–2016)
- President of the Generalitat of Catalonia (2016–2017)
