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María del Mar Galcerán Gadea (born 28 October 1977) is a Spanish politician who has been a member of the Corts Valencianes, the legislature of the Valencian Community, since 14 September 2023. A member of the People's Party (PP), Galcerán is the first Spanish regional legislator with Down syndrome.
Mar Galcerán | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Corts Valencianes | |
| Assumed office 14 September 2023 | |
| Constituency | Valencia |
| Personal details | |
| Born | María del Mar Galcerán Gadea 28 October 1977 Valencia, Spain |
| Political party | People's Party |
Early life and career edit
Born María del Mar Galcerán Gadea on 28 October 1977,[1] Galcerán joined the conservative People's Party at the age of 18, citing its "embrace of tradition".[2] She served as a civil servant for many years,[a] including 13 as an intern with the President of the Valencian Government and four years with Asindown, a Valencian organization helping families with children with Down syndrome.[3][2][4]
Parliamentary career edit
In May 2023, Galcerán was placed 20th on the People's Party's party list for the 2023 Valencian regional election.[2] She fell one seat short of becoming a member of the Corts Valencianes; however, due to the appointment of deputy Ernesto Fernández Pardo as the director general of the Entidad Valenciana de Vivienda y Suelo, Galcerán joined the Corts on 14 September 2023. She was the first person with Down syndrome to serve on a Spanish regional legislature,[3] and, according to Down España, she may be the first person with Down syndrome to serve in a European regional parliament.[2] As a member of the Corts, Galcerán hopes to help eliminate prejudice in society, saying "I want people to see me as a person, not just for my disability."[2] Her appointment was celebrated by Carlos Mazón, the President of the Valencian Government, who described it as "great news for politics, overcoming barriers."[2][4]
Notes edit
- ^ La Vanguardia states Galcerán was a public servant for 26 years,[3] while The Guardian states she was for 20 years.[2]
References edit
- ^ "María del Mar Galcerán Gadea" (in Spanish). Corts Valencianes. Archived from the original on 16 January 2024. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g Kassam, Ashifa (9 January 2024). "Mar Galcerán makes history as Spain's first parliamentarian with Down's syndrome". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 9 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
- ^ a b c Enguix, Salvador (14 September 2023). "Mar Galcerán (PP), diputada con síndrome de Down, ya tiene su escaño en Cortes Valencianas" [Mar Galcerán (PP), deputy with Down syndrome, has her seat in the Cortes Valencianas]. La Vanguardia (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 9 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
- ^ a b "Mar Galcerán: Spain elects first parliamentarian with Down's syndrome". BBC Newsround. 17 January 2024. Archived from the original on 17 January 2024. Retrieved 17 January 2024.