Torra Government

Executive Council of Catalonia
2018–2021
The government in June 2018
Date formed15 May 2018 (2018-05-15)
Date dissolved26 May 2021
People and organisations
Head of governmentQuim Torra (2018-2020)
Pere Aragonès (acting) (2020-2021)
Deputy head of governmentPere Aragonès
No. of ministers13
Member party  JxCat
  ERC
  PdeCAT
Status in legislatureMinority coalition government
66 / 135 (49%)
Opposition party  Citizens
Opposition leaderInés Arrimadas (2017–2019)
Carlos Carrizosa (2019-2021)
History
Election(s)2017 regional election
Legislature term(s)XII Legislature (2018–2020)
Incoming formationApplication of Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution and Direct Rule
Outgoing formationDisqualification of President Quim Torra
PredecessorPuigdemont
SuccessorAragonès

The Torra Government was the regional government of Catalonia led by President Quim Torra between 2018 and 2020. It was formed in May 2018 after the regional election. Pere Aragonès took office as the interim president when the High Court of Justice of Catalonia barred Torra from public office on 28 September 2020.

History

On 27 October 2017 the Catalan Parliament declared independence in a vote boycotted by opposition MPs.[1][2] Almost immediately the Senate of Spain invoked article 155 of the constitution, dismissing President Carles Puigdemont and the Catalan government and imposing direct rule on Catalonia.[3][4] The following day Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy dissolved the Catalan Parliament and called for fresh regional elections on 21 December 2017.[5][6]

At the election Catalan secessionists retained a slim majority in the Catalan Parliament.[7][8] On 22 January 2018 Catalan Parliament President Roger Torrent officially proposed Puigdemont to be president.[9][10][11] However, on 27 January 2018 the Constitutional Court of Spain ruled that Puigdemont, who had been living in exile since 30 October 2017, could not participate in any investiture debate via video conference or by getting another MP to read his speech and that he had to appear in person in parliament after receiving "prior judicial authorisation".[12][13] The ruling effectively blocked the investiture of Puigdemont who faced arrest on charges rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds if he returned to Spain.[14][15] As a result Torrent announced on 30 January that Puigdemont's investiture vote would be postponed though he later insisted that Puigdemont "is and will be" the candidate for president.[16][17][18][19]

As the political impasse continued Puigdemont came under pressure to step aside.[20][21][22] On 1 March 2018 Puigdemont announced that he was withdrawing his candidature in favour of jailed independence activist Jordi Sànchez.[23][24][25] However, on 9 March 2018 Supreme Court judge Pablo Llarena refused permission for Sànchez to leave prison in order to attend the investiture debate.[26][27][28] Sànchez ended his candidature on 21 March 2018.[29][30][31]

The secessionists hastily nominated Jordi Turull to be president.[32][33] Turull was due to appear before the Supreme Court on 23 March 2018 and if the court jailed him he would not have been able to attend the investiture debate, scuppering his chances of becoming president.[34][35] At the investiture vote held on 22 March 2018 Turull secured 64 votes (JuntsxCat 33; ERC–CatSí 31) with 65 votes against (Cs 36; PSC 17; CatComú–Podem 8; PP 4), four abstentions (CUP–CC 4) and two absentees (JuntsxCat 1; ERC–CatSí 1).[36][37][38] A second vote on Turull's candidature was to be held on 24 March 2018 but on 23 March 2018 Llarena remanded in custody Turull and four other Catalan leaders.[39][40][41] On 3 April 2018 and 24 April 2018 the Catalan Parliament's bureau approved the two absentee MPs - Puigdemont (JuntsxCat) and Antoni Comín (ERC–CatSí) - voting by proxy.[42][43]

Turull's investiture vote had set in motion a two month deadline for a new president to be sworn in or else parliament would be dissolved and elections called.[44] On 10 May 2018 Puigdemont nominated Quim Torra, the so-called "plan D", to be president.[45][46][47][48][49] At the investiture vote held on 12 May 2018 Torra secured 66 votes (JuntsxCat 34; ERC–CatSí 32) with 65 votes against (Cs 36; PSC 17; CatComú–Podem 8; PP 4) and four abstentions (CUP-CC 4), failing to achieve the 68 votes necessary for an absolute majority.[50][51] As a result a second vote was held on 14 May 2018 at which he only needed a simple majority to become president.[52][53] The result of the second vote was exactly the same as the first vote - 66 in favour, 65 against and four abstentions - and as a result Torra was elected the 131st President of Catalonia.[54][55][56] King Felipe issued a royal decree on 15 May 2018 approving Torra's appointment and on 17 May 2018 he was sworn in.[57][58][59]

On 19 May 2018 Torra announced his new government of 13 ministers, two of whom were in jail (Josep Rull and Turull) and two were in exile (Comín and Lluís Puig).[60][61][62] The Spanish government condemned the inclusion of jailed/exiled politicians as provocative and refused to approve Torra's appointments or to revoke direct rule.[63][64][65] Faced with this opposition Torra announced a new government on 29 May 2018 without the jailed/exiled politicians.[66][67] In one of his last acts, ousted Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy ordered that direct rule be lifted as soon as the new ministers were sworn in.[68][69][70] On 2 June 2018 the new ministers were sworn in at the Palau de la Generalitat de Catalunya, ending seven months of direct rule.[71][72][73]

Executive Council

Portrait Name Office Took office Left office Party Refs.
Quim Torra President 15 May 2018 28 September 2020 Independent[74] [75]
Pere Aragonès Vice President

Minister of Economy and Finance

 29 May 2018 Republican Left of Catalonia [76]
Meritxell Budó Minister of the Presidency

Spokesperson of the Government

 24 March 2019 Together for Catalonia [76]
Josep Bargalló Minister of Education 29 May 2018 Republican Left of Catalonia [76]
Àngels Ponsa defensa al Congrés la petició del Parlament de rebaixar l'IVA cultural (18673509831) Àngles Ponsa Minister of Culture 3 September 2020 Together for Catalonia [76]
Miquel Sàmper Minister of the Interior 3 September 2020 Together for Catalonia
Damià Calvet Minister of Territory and Sustainability 29 May 2018 Together for Catalonia [76]
Ester Capella Minister of Justice 29 May 2018 Republican Left of Catalonia [76]
Ramon Tremosa Minister of Enterprise and Knowledge 3 September 2020 Independent[77]
Chakir El Homrani Minister of Labour, Social Affairs and Family 29 May 2018 Republican Left of Catalonia [76]
Teresa Jordà Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food 29 May 2018 Republican Left of Catalonia [76]
Alfred Bosch Minister of Foreign Action, Institutional Relations and Transparency 23 November 2018 9 March 2020 Republican Left of Catalonia [76]
Bernat Solé Minister of Foreign Action, Institutional Relations and Transparency 21 March 2020 Republican Left of Catalonia
Jordi Puigneró Minister of Digital Policies and Public Administration 29 May 2018 Together for Catalonia [76]
Alba Vergés Minister of Health 29 May 2018 Republican Left of Catalonia [76]
Miquel Buch Minister of the Interior 29 May 2018 3 September 2020 Together for Catalonia [76]
Maria Àngels Chacón Minister of Enterprise and Knowledge 29 May 2018 3 September 2020 Catalan European Democratic Party [76]
Mariàngela Vilallonga Minister of Culture 24 March 2019 3 September 2020 Independent [76]

References

  1. ↑ "Catalans declare independence as Madrid imposes direct rule". BBC News. London, U.K. 27 October 2017. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  2. ↑ "Catalonia declares independence as Spain prepares to impose direct rule". The Independent. London, U.K. 27 October 2017. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  3. ↑ Jones, Sam; Burgen, Stephen; Graham-Harrison, Emma (28 October 2017). "Spain dissolves Catalan parliament and calls fresh elections". The Guardian. London, U.K. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  4. ↑ Burgess, Sanya (27 October 2017). "Catalan votes for independence as Madrid approves direct rule". The National. Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  5. ↑ "Catalonia independence: Rajoy dissolves Catalan parliament". BBC News. London, U.K. 28 October 2017. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  6. ↑ Smith-Spark, Laura; Rebaza, Claudia (28 October 2017). "Catalonia government dissolved after declaring independence from Spain". CNN. Atlanta, U.S.A. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  7. ↑ Jackson, Russell (22 December 2017). "Catalan independence supporters win majority in election". The Scotsman. Edinburgh, U.K. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  8. ↑ Parra, Aritz; Giles, Ciaran (21 December 2017). "Catalan secessionist parties win slim majority in regional parliament". Toronto Star. Toronto, Canada. Associated Press. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  9. ↑ Stone, Jon (22 January 2018). "Fugitive Catalan politician Carles Puigdemont officially proposed as president by parliament speaker". The Independent. London, U.K. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  10. ↑ Stothard, Michael (22 January 2018). "Puigdemont put forward as Catalan parliament leader". Financial Times. London, U.K. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  11. ↑ "Catalan speaker nominates Puigdemont to be next Catalan premier". El País. Madrid, Spain. 22 January 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  12. ↑ "Catalonia's Puigdemont cannot lead from abroad, court rules". BBC News. London, U.K. 27 January 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  13. ↑ Jones, Sam (28 January 2018). "Puigdemont could return to Catalonia in attempt to retake office". The Guardian. London, U.K. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  14. ↑ "Spain turns to court to block Puigdemont's Catalan comeback bid". The Local. Stockholm, Sweden. Agence France-Presse. 27 January 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  15. ↑ Duarte, Esteban (28 January 2018). "Puigdemont to Seek Approval to Attend Catalan Parliament". Bloomberg News. New York. U.S.A. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  16. ↑ Minder, Raphael (30 January 2018). "Catalonia's Parliament Delays Vote on Puigdemont as President". The New York Times. New York, U.S.A. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  17. ↑ Jones, Sam (30 January 2018). "Catalan parliament delays vote on leader but backs Puigdemont". The Guardian. London, U.K. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  18. ↑ "Puigdemont still candidate for president despite leaks, says Parliament head". Catalan News Agency. Barcelona, Spain. 1 February 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  19. ↑ "Catalonia at an impasse: So what next?". The Local. Stockholm, Sweden. Agence France-Presse. 1 February 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  20. ↑ Shayanian, Sara (1 February 2018). "Catalan leaders urge ex-president Puigdemont to end return bid". United Press International. Boca Raton, U.S.A. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  21. ↑ Badcock, James (21 February 2018). "Jailed Catalan leader: We must unite to retake control". BBC News. London, U.K. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  22. ↑ Strange, Hannah (27 February 2018). "Catalonia independence parties 'preparing deal for Puigdemont to step aside'". The Daily Telegraph. London, U.K. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  23. ↑ Kingsley, Patrick; Minder, Raphael (1 March 2018). "Carles Puigdemont Abandons Bid for Catalonia Presidency". The New York Times. New York, U.S.A. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  24. ↑ "Carles Puigdemont gives up candidacy for Catalan presidency". Deutsche Welle. Bonn, Germany. 1 March 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  25. ↑ "Puigdemont gives way to jailed Jordi Sànchez as president". Catalan News Agency. Barcelona, Spain. 1 March 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  26. ↑ "Catalonia Spain: Judge refuses to release Jordi Sanchez for investiture". BBC News. London, U.K. 9 March 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  27. ↑ Jones, Sam (9 March 2018). "Catalan leader cannot leave jail to attend debate, court rules". The Guardian. London, U.K. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  28. ↑ "Judge denies jailed leader permission to be sworn in". Catalan News Agency. Barcelona, Spain. 9 March 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  29. ↑ "Catalonia crisis: Jailed activist Jordi Sanchez drops candidacy". BBC News. London, U.K. 21 March 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  30. ↑ "Jailed Catalan separatist Jordi Sanchez drops leadership bid". The New Indian Express. Chennai, India. Agence France-Presse. 21 March 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  31. ↑ "Catalonia Lawmakers to Vote on New Leader". Voice of America. Washington, D.C., U.S.A. 21 March 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  32. ↑ Jones, Sam (22 March 2018). "Catalan parties propose third potential leader in race against courts". The Guardian. London, U.K. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  33. ↑ "Debate to swear in MP Jordi Turull as president to be held Thursday 5pm". Catalan News Agency. Barcelona, Spain. 21 March 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  34. ↑ "Supreme Court summons Catalan separatists as trial nears". The Local. Stockholm, Sweden. Agence France-Presse. 21 March 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  35. ↑ "Catalan Parliament might elect new president on Thursday". Catalan News Agency. Barcelona, Spain. 21 March 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  36. ↑ "Catalan party's decision to abstain prevents appointment of new premier". El País. Madrid, Spain. 23 March 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  37. ↑ "Turull's bid rejected in Parliament". Catalan News Agency. Barcelona, Spain. 22 March 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  38. ↑ Duarte, Esteban (22 March 2018). "Catalan Separatist Turull Fails in Bid to Become President". Bloomberg News. New York. U.S.A. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  39. ↑ "Spain Catalonia: Five separatist leaders detained". BBC News. London, U.K. 23 March 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  40. ↑ Jones, Sam (23 March 2018). "Spanish court remands Catalan presidential candidate in custody". The Guardian. London, U.K. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  41. ↑ Hedgecoe, Guy (23 March 2018). "Five Catalan politicians jailed over independence drive". The Irish Times. Dublin, Ireland. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  42. ↑ "Catalan parliament accepts Puigdemont voting by proxy". Catalan News Agency. Barcelona, Spain. 3 April 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  43. ↑ "Parliament bureau accepts delegated vote of MP in Brussels". Catalan News Agency. Barcelona, Spain. 24 April 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  44. ↑ "Jailed pro-independence leaders urge forming a government". Catalan News Agency. Barcelona, Spain. 26 April 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  45. ↑ "Catalonia's Carles Puigdemont opts out of presidency". BBC News. London, U.K. 10 May 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  46. ↑ Jones, Sam (11 May 2018). "Hopes of end to Catalan impasse as Puigdemont anoints new successor". The Guardian. London, U.K. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  47. ↑ Baquero, Camilo S. (11 May 2018). "Investiture vote called for hard-line Catalan separatist Quim Torra". El País. Madrid, Spain. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  48. ↑ Lasalas, Marta (10 May 2018). "Quim Torra to be 131st president of Catalonia". El Nacional. Barcelona, Spain. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  49. ↑ Strange, Hannah (11 May 2018). "Catalans nominate 'radical' presidential candidate Quim Torra". The Daily Telegraph. London, U.K. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  50. ↑ "Catalan lawmakers fail to agree on new president in first-round vote". The Straits Times. Singapore. Agence France-Presse. 12 May 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  51. ↑ Guasch, Albert (12 May 2018). "Catalunya: Pleno de investidura de Quim Torra en directo". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). Barcelona, Spain. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  52. ↑ "Separatists fail to elect Quim Torra as new Catalonia leader". Al Jazeera. Doha, Qatar. 12 May 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  53. ↑ "Torra not elected in first round – second vote called for Monday". Catalan News Agency. Barcelona, Spain. 12 May 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  54. ↑ "Catalans elect new separatist leader Quim Torra". BBC News. London, U.K. 14 May 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  55. ↑ Cutrona, Judith (14 May 2018). "Quim Torra, investido president de la Generalitat de Catalunya. Las reacciones en directo". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). Barcelona, Spain. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  56. ↑ "Nuevo presidente en Cataluña: últimas noticias de Quim Torra en directo". El País (in Spanish). Madrid, Spain. 14 May 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  57. ↑ "Section II: Authorities and personnel - Section A: Appointments, situations and incidents - Presidency of the Government - Royal decree 291/2018" (PDF). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish). No. 119. Madrid, Spain: Boletín Oficial del Estado. 16 May 2018. p. 50791. ISSN 0212-033X. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
  58. ↑ Jones, Sam (17 May 2018). "Quim Torra sworn in as Catalan president amid xenophobia claims". The Guardian. London, U.K. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  59. ↑ "New Catalan leader Quim Torra shuns constitution as sworn in". The New Indian Express. Chennai, India. Agence France-Presse. 17 May 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  60. ↑ "New Catalan president Torra names jailed, exiled leaders to regional government". France 24. Paris, France. 19 May 2018. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
  61. ↑ "New Catalonia president includes jailed, exiled leaders in government". SBS. Artarmon, Australia. Agence France-Presse. 19 May 2018. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
  62. ↑ "New Catalonia president includes jailed, exiled leaders in govt". The Local. Stockholm, Sweden. Agence France-Presse. 19 May 2018. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
  63. ↑ Stothard, Michael (20 May 2018). "Rajoy wins opposition support to keep direct rule over Catalonia". Financial Times. London, U.K. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  64. ↑ "Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy urges Catalonia to form 'viable' government". The New Indian Express. Chennai, India. Press Trust of India. 21 May 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  65. ↑ Day, Paul (20 May 2018). "Spain to maintain control of Catalonia - El Pais". Reuters. London, U.K. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  66. ↑ "Torra proposes new nominations to overcome Spain's block on forming government". Catalan News Agency. Barcelona, Spain. 29 May 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  67. ↑ "Torra unblocks new Catalan government, replacing ministers in exile and prison with new names". El Nacional. Barcelona, Spain. EFE. 29 May 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  68. ↑ "Direct Rule On Catalonia Due To Be Lifted As Separatist Govt Sworn In". NDTV. New Delhi, India. Agence France-Presse. 1 June 2018. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  69. ↑ "Catalonia to form new government as Rajoy falls in Spain". Catalan News Agency. Barcelona, Spain. 1 June 2018. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  70. ↑ "Catalonia revamps cabinet list, paving way for Madrid to end direct rule". Reuters. London, U.K. 1 June 2018. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  71. ↑ "Catalonia: Madrid's direct rule ends with new Catalan government". BBC News. London, U.K. 2 June 2018. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  72. ↑ "Catalonia government sworn in, ending Madrid's direct rule". Al Jazeera. Doha, Qatar. 2 June 2018. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  73. ↑ Baquero, Camilo S. (2 June 2018). "New Catalan government sworn in, paving way for suspension of direct rule". El País. Madrid, Spain. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  74. ↑ "Torra no militará en el partido de Puigdemont". El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). Barcelona, Spain. 9 August 2020. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  75. ↑ "Real Decreto 291/2018, de 15 de mayo, por el que se nombra Presidente de la Generalitat de Cataluña a don Joaquim Torra i Pla" (PDF). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado (119): 50791. 16 May 2018. ISSN 0212-033X.
  76. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "DECRET 3/2018, de 29 de maig, pel qual es nomenen el vicepresident del Govern i els consellers i conselleres dels departaments de la Generalitat de Catalunya" (PDF). Diari Oficial de la Generalitat de Catalunya (in Catalan). Generalitat de Catalunya (7632). 1 June 2018. ISSN 1988-298X.
  77. ↑ "Tremosa asegura desconocer los motivos para la destitución de su predecesora". Europa Press (in Spanish). Barcelona, Spain. 4 September 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
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