María José Catalá facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
María José Catalá
|
|
|---|---|
José Catalá in 2023
|
|
| Mayor of Valencia | |
| Assumed office 17 June 2023 |
|
| Preceded by | Joan Ribó |
| Minister of Education, Culture and Sports of the Valencian Government | |
| In office 7 December 2012 – 30 June 2015 |
|
| President | Alberto Fabra |
| Preceded by | herself as Minister of Education, Training and Employment |
| Succeeded by | Vicent Marzà |
| Member of the Congress of Deputies | |
| In office 31 March 2008 – 6 October 2008 |
|
| Constituency | Valencia |
| Member of the Corts Valencianes | |
| Assumed office 10 June 2011 |
|
| Constituency | Valencia |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 2 March 1981 Valencia, Valencian Community, Spain |
| Political party | PPCV |
| Alma mater | CEU Cardinal Herrera University |
María José Catalá Verdet (born 3 March 1981) is a Spanish politician. She is a member of the People's Party (PP). Since June 2023, she has been the Mayor of Valencia.
Before becoming mayor of Valencia, she was the mayor of Torrent from 2007 to 2012. She was the first woman and the first person from her party to hold that job. She also served briefly in the Congress of Deputies in 2008. From 2012 to 2015, she was the Minister of Education in the Generalitat Valenciana. Later, she was elected to the Corts Valencianes in 2015 and the Valencia City Council in 2019.
Her Story
María José Catalá was born in Valencia, Spain. She studied law at the CEU Cardinal Herrera University. She also earned a master's degree in Business Administration.
In March 2017, she received a special degree called a doctorate from CEU Cardinal Herrera University. Her studies focused on how voters and their elected leaders connect in modern times.
Early Steps in Politics
Catalá started her political career in 2003. She was elected as a councillor for the town of Torrent. This town is located south-west of the city of Valencia.
In 2007, she became the candidate for mayor of Torrent for the People's Party. She won the election in May. This made her the first female mayor of Torrent. She was also the first mayor from her party, ending 28 years of control by another party. At 26 years old, she was one of the youngest mayors at that time.
In 2008, Catalá was elected to the Congress of Deputies. This is like being a member of parliament for Spain. She represented the Valencia area. She served in Congress for about half a year. She then resigned in October 2008.
Serving in Government
Catalá left her job as mayor of Torrent in 2012. She was then named the Minister of Education in the Generalitat Valenciana. This is the regional government of Valencia. She also acted as the government's spokesperson for a year.
In 2015, she was elected to the Corts Valencianes. This is the regional parliament of Valencia.
Leading Valencia
In January 2019, she was chosen as the People's Party candidate for mayor of Valencia. The election took place in May of that year. Her party came in second place. The current mayor, Joan Ribó, was re-elected with support from another party.
In June 2023, María José Catalá won the local elections. She then became the Mayor of Valencia.
See also
In Spanish: María José Catalá para niños
