Oriol Junqueras facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Oriol Junqueras GMGC
Junqueras in 2016
President of Republican Left of Catalonia
Incumbent
Assumed office 14 December 2024
Preceded by	Marta Rovira (acting)
In office 17 September 2011 – 10 June 2024
Preceded by	Joan Puigcercós
Succeeded by	Marta Rovira (acting)
Vice President of Catalonia
In office 14 January 2016 – 28 October 2017
President	Carles Puigdemont
Preceded by	Neus Munté
Succeeded by	Office suspended Pere Aragonès (2018)
Minister of Economy and Finance of Catalonia
In office 14 January 2016 – 27 October 2017
President	Carles Puigdemont
Preceded by	Andreu Mas-Colell
Succeeded by	Pere Aragonès
Member of the European Parliament
In office 2 July 2019 – 2 January 2020 (suspended)
Succeeded by	Jordi Solé i Ferrando
Constituency	Spain
In office 14 July 2009 – 31 December 2011
Succeeded by	Ana Miranda Paz
Constituency	Spain
Member of the Parliament of Catalonia
In office 17 December 2012 – 10 July 2018 (suspended)
Constituency	Barcelona
Mayor of Sant Vicenç dels Horts
In office 11 June 2011 – 23 December 2015
Preceded by	Amparo Piqueras Manzano
Succeeded by	Maite Aymerich
Member of the Municipality Council of Sant Vicenç dels Horts
In office 2007–2015
Personal details
Born	Oriol Junqueras i Vies (1969-04-11) 11 April 1969 (age 56) Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Citizenship	Spanish
Political party	Republican Left of Catalonia
Alma mater	Autonomous University of Barcelona
Occupation	Academic
Signature

Oriol Junqueras i Vies (born 11 April 1969) is a Catalan politician and historian. He was the mayor of Sant Vicenç dels Horts in Catalonia. From 2016 to 2017, Junqueras served as the Vice President of Catalonia.

He was removed from office in October 2017 after the Catalan declaration of independence. He was later sent to prison for his part in organizing the 2017 Catalan independence referendum. He was released in June 2021. Today, he is the president of the Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) political party.

Early Life and Education

Oriol Junqueras was born on 11 April 1969 in Barcelona, Spain. His father was a high school teacher, and his mother was a nurse. When he was two years old, his family moved to Sant Vicenç dels Horts. He learned Italian at the Liceo Italiano in Barcelona.

As a young person, he helped his family work in their almond and olive farms. Junqueras says he started supporting Catalan independence when he was eight years old. He first studied economics at the University of Barcelona. He then transferred to the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB). He earned a degree in modern and contemporary history in 1996.

Academic Career and Books

In 2002, Junqueras earned a PhD in History of Economic Thought from UAB. He later taught history at the university. His PhD paper was about economic ideas in Catalonia a long time ago. He has also given lectures at the University of Vic.

He has worked as an advisor and writer for many Catalan radio and TV shows. These shows were about politics and history. He has also written several books. Some of his books include Els Catalans i Cuba (1998) and La Batalla de l'Ebre (1999).

Political Journey

Artur Mas and Oriol Junqueras signing a government agreement in December 2012

Junqueras first tried to get elected in 2003 in Sant Vicenç dels Horts. He was a candidate for the Republican Left of Catalonia party but did not win. In 2007, he was elected to the Municipality Council of Sant Vicenç dels Horts.

In 2011, he became the Mayor of Sant Vicenç dels Horts. He was re-elected as mayor in 2015. In 2009, Junqueras was elected to the European Parliament. He served there until 2012.

In 2011, he became the leader of the Republican Left of Catalonia party. In 2012, he was elected to the Parliament of Catalonia. In 2013, he became the Leader of the Opposition in the Catalan Parliament.

In 2016, Junqueras was appointed Vice President of Catalonia. He also became the Minister of Economy and Finance. This happened after an agreement between political parties that supported Catalan independence.

Catalonia's Independence Referendum

In June 2017, the President of Catalonia, Carles Puigdemont, announced a referendum (a public vote) on Catalan independence. This vote was planned for 1 October 2017. The Catalan Parliament passed a law to allow this vote.

However, the Spanish courts said the vote was against the Spanish constitution. The Spanish government tried to stop the vote. Despite this, the referendum still happened. About 43% of people voted, and 92% of those who voted supported independence. Many people who did not support independence did not vote.

On 27 October 2017, the Catalan Parliament declared independence. Soon after, the Spanish government took control of Catalonia. They removed Puigdemont and the Catalan government from office. New elections were called for December 2017.

Time in Prison

Junqueras arriving at a court in Madrid on 2 November 2017

On 30 October 2017, charges were brought against Junqueras and other members of the Catalan government. These charges were related to the independence referendum. On 2 November 2017, Junqueras and seven other Catalan ministers were held in custody by a judge.

Six of the ministers were later released on bail in December 2017. However, Junqueras and another minister, Joaquim Forn, remained in custody. While in prison, Junqueras was re-elected to the Catalan Parliament in the December 2017 election.

On 10 July 2018, a judge suspended Junqueras as a Member of Parliament. On 4 July 2018, he was moved to Lledoners Prison in Catalonia. On 1 February 2019, he was moved back to a prison in Madrid for his trial.

On 14 October 2019, Junqueras was sentenced to 13 years in prison. He was also banned from holding public office for 13 years. In December 2019, a European court ruled that Junqueras should have been released from prison. This was because he had special protection as an elected Member of the European Parliament.

On 22 June 2021, the Spanish government officially pardoned Junqueras. Eight other Catalan politicians were also pardoned. This pardon was for their roles in the declaration of independence.

Personal Life

Oriol Junqueras married school teacher Neus Bramona in 2013. They have two children, a son named Lluc and a daughter named Joana. Junqueras is a Catholic.

Works

• Els Catalans i Cuba (1998, Proa)
• Catalunya, Espanya, Cuba: Centres i Perifèries (1999, Graó)
• Manel Girona, el Banc de Barcelona i el Canal d'Urgell: Pagesos i Burgesos en l'Articulació del Territori (2003, Pagès Editors, co-author Maria Antònia Martí Escayol)
• Guerres dels Catalans (2005, Mina, co-author Enric Calpena i Ollé)
• Guerra, Economia i Política a la Catalunya de l'Alta Edat Moderna (2005, Farell)
• Economia i Pensament Econòmic a la Catalunya de l'Alta Edat Moderna: 1520-1630 (2006, Autonomous University of Barcelona)
• Camí de Sicília: l'Expansió Mediterrània de Catalunya (2008, Cossetània Edicions)
• Les Proclames de Sobirania de Catalunya (1640-1939) (2009, Farell Editors, co-authors Adrià Cases & Albert Botran)
• Converses amb Oriol Junqueras: Una Actitud per fer Avançar el País (2011, Viena, co-author Bernat Ferrer i Frigola)
• Història del Japó (2011, Editorial UOC, co-authors Dani Madrid i Morales, Guillermo Martínez Taberner & Pau Pitarch Fernández)
• Revoltats (2015, Ara Llibres, co-author Justo Molinero Calero)
• Sublevados (2015, Ara Llibres, co-author Justo Molinero Calero)

Electoral History

See also

In Spanish: Oriol Junqueras para niños