Òscar Ribas Reig facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Òscar Ribas Reig
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Official portrait
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| Prime Minister of Andorra | |
| In office 12 January 1990 – 7 December 1994 |
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| Monarch | Episcopal Co-prince: Joan Martí i Alanis French Co-prince: François Mitterrand |
| Preceded by | Josep Pintat-Solans |
| Succeeded by | Marc Forné Molné |
| In office 8 January 1982 – 21 May 1984 |
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| Monarch | Episcopal Co-prince: Joan Martí i Alanis French Co-prince: François Mitterrand |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Josep Pintat-Solans |
| General Councillor | |
| In office 1972–1979 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 26 October 1936 Sant Julià de Lòria, Andorra |
| Died | 18 December 2020 (aged 84) Sant Julià de Lòria, Andorra |
| Political party | National Democratic Group |
| Spouse | Roser Duró Ribó |
| Children | 5 |
| Alma mater | University of Barcelona University of Fribourg |
| Signature |  |
Òscar Ribas Reig (26 October 1936 – 18 December 2020) was an important politician, lawyer, and businessman from Andorra. He became the first ever prime minister of Andorra in 1982. He led the government twice. His first term was from 1982 to 1984. His second term was from 1990 to 1994.
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Early Life and Education
Òscar Ribas Reig was born in Sant Julià de Lòria, Andorra, on October 26, 1936. His father was Andorran, and his mother was from Catalonia.
As a child, he moved to Barcelona, Spain. He went to La Salle Bonanova School there. In 1959, he finished his law degree at the University of Barcelona. Later, in 1961, he earned a master's degree in political philosophy from the University of Fribourg in Switzerland.
Òscar Ribas Reig was married to Roser Duró Ribó. They had five children together.
His Time in Politics
Starting in Politics
Òscar Ribas Reig began his political work in his hometown. From 1963 to 1965, he was the Secretary for the City Council of Sant Julià de Lòria.
In 1971, he was elected to the General Council. This was Andorra's main governing body. At that time, political parties were not yet allowed in Andorra. He served as a member until 1979. During this period, he was in charge of finance. This role was similar to being a Minister of Finance today.
First Time as Prime Minister (1982-1984)
Andorra was going through big changes in its government structure. Òscar Ribas Reig was seen as a strong choice for a new leader. He was re-elected to the General Council in 1981.
On January 8, 1982, the position of prime minister was created. Òscar Ribas Reig was the first person chosen for this important role. A few days later, he presented his government plan to the General Council.
However, he resigned on May 1, 1984. He did not have enough support from the General Council. It was also hard to pass a new tax law. Josep Pintat-Solans took over as prime minister later that month.
More Time as Prime Minister (1990-1994)
Òscar Ribas Reig was elected prime minister again in 1990. His second term began on January 12, 1990. In 1990, he signed an important agreement with the European Economic Community about customs.
In 1992, he resigned again. This happened because his plans for a new constitution were blocked. This constitution aimed to protect human rights.
After the 1992 election, he became prime minister for a third time on May 5, 1992. A major event during this term was the approval of Andorra's first Constitution. This happened on March 14, 1993, after people voted for it. This new constitution changed Andorra from an old feudal system.
Ribas Reig started a political group called the National Democratic Group. He ran in the 1993 election with this group. This was the first election where political parties were allowed. His group won, but not with a full majority. He became prime minister again on January 19, 1994, after making agreements with other parties.
In 1994, Andorra joined the United Nations. Òscar Ribas Reig gave the admission speech. He spoke in Catalan, which was a first for the United Nations General Assembly.
On November 25, 1994, he lost a vote of confidence. This meant he no longer had enough support from the government. He resigned, and Marc Forné became the new prime minister.
Life After Politics
After leaving politics, Òscar Ribas Reig went back to his family's business. He was the president of Banca Reig. He was also the vice president of the Agricultural Bank of Andorra, which is now called Andbank. From 2002, he was the honorary president of Andbank.
In 2005, he became a member of the Spanish Royal Academy of Economic and Financial Sciences in Barcelona. He stayed a member until he passed away. In 2009, the Andorran government made him a special ambassador. His job was to improve relations with Europe. He held this role until 2015.
In December 2020, Òscar Ribas Reig published his life story in a book. He passed away on December 18, 2020, at age 84, in his hometown. The government declared a national day of mourning. His funeral was held in Sant Julià de Lòria.
Special Awards and Honors
- Honoris causa University of the Balearic Islands (1996). This is an honorary degree.
- Commandeur of the Legion of Honour (2010). This is a high French award.
- Medal of the Group of Ex-Syndics and Former General Councilors (GESCO) (2018).
- Honoris causa University of Georgia. This is another honorary degree.
Images for kids
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Òscar Ribas Reig's signature
See also
In Spanish: Òscar Ribas Reig para niños
