Marta Pascal Capdevila (born 10 April 1983) is a Spanish politician, a Senator of the Parliament of Catalonia.[1] From July 2016 to July 2018, she was general coordinator of the Catalan European Democratic Party (PDeCAT).[2][3] From October 2012 to February 2015, she was president of the Nationalist Youth of Catalonia, and from July 2015 until its dissolution in July 2016 she was the spokesperson for the Democratic Convergence of Catalonia (CDC).[4]

Marta Pascal
2016
Born
Marta Pascal Capdevila

(1983-04-10) 10 April 1983 (age 40)
Vic, Catalonia, Spain
Alma materUniversity of Barcelona
Occupation(s)Historian, politician
OrganizationÒmnium Cultural
Political party
SpouseJoaquim Bohils
Senator for the Parliament of Catalonia
In office
3 May 2018 – 4 March 2020
ConstituencyProvince of Barcelona
General coordinator of the Catalan European Democratic Party
In office
23 July 2016 – 22 July 2018
PresidentArtur Mas
Vice PresidentNeus Munté
Deputy of the Parliament of Catalonia
In office
16 December 2012 – 28 October 2017
President of the Nationalist Youth of Catalonia
In office
October 2012 – February 2015
Preceded byGerard Figueras [ca]
Succeeded bySergi Miquel Valentí [ca]

Biography edit

Marta Pascal earned licentiates in Political Science and Administration from Pompeu Fabra University and in History from the University of Barcelona.[4]

She participated in the Ordit leadership program promoted by the Jaume Bofill Foundation [ca]. She completed a leadership program in public management (IESE-Madrid) and is currently participating in the leadership program Vicens Vives (ESADE).[5]

Professionally, she has dedicated herself to the field of educational policies in the International Association of Educating Cities. From 2008 to 2011 she was head of the Department of Education area of the Vic City Council, and from 2011 to 2012 adviser to the Minister of Education of the Catalan government, Irene Rigau.

She is a member of Òmnium Cultural and a patron of the Eduard Soler Foundation-Escuela de Trabajo del Ripollés.

She regularly writes for various digital communication media, such as Nació Digital [ca], Directe.cat [ca], and e-notícies.[5]

Political and institutional career edit

Pascal joined the Nationalist Youth of Catalonia (JNC) and the youth group of the Democratic Convergence of Catalonia (CDC). She joined the CDC in 2006.[5]

She was president of the JNC from October 2012 to February 2015.[6] From December 2010 to 2012 she was vice president. From November 2008 to April 2010 she shared responsibility for the JNC's Social Policies and Immigration area, and from April to December 2010 she was secretary of the territory.[7]

She was part of the CDC executives of Vic and Osona, and of the Federation of Central Regions. Beginning in 2010 she was a member of the CDC's National Council.[5]

In the 2012 elections, she was ranked 34th on the Convergence and Union (CiU) list and elected deputy.[8] In the 2015 elections, she renewed her seat, this time on the Junts pel Sí list.

On 19 July 2015, she assumed the role of CDC spokesperson in the place of Mercè Conesa [ca].[4][6]

On 23 July 2016, she was elected General Coordinator of the Catalan European Democratic Party (PDeCAT), the inheritor party of the CDC. Pascal won in primaries with 87.76% of the votes over the rival candidacy led by the president of Reagrupament, Ignasi Planas, who received 12.27%.[2]

On 3 May 2018 the Parliament of Catalonia appointed Pascal a Senator by Autonomic Designation.[1]

Judicial case edit

On 22 December 2017, Judge Pablo Llarena of the Supreme Court of Spain agreed to the investigation (before imputation) for rebellion against Marta Pascal (PDeCAT general coordinator), Artur Mas (PDeCat president), Marta Rovira (ERC general secretary), Mireia Boya (CUP parliamentary group president), Anna Gabriel (CUP spokesperson), and Neus Lloveras [es] (AMI president), all for belonging to the organizing team of the Catalan referendum of 1 October 2017 and with a decisive role in the Catalan independence plan, whose roadmap was annulled by the Constitutional Court of Spain.[9]

Resignation as PDeCAT director edit

At the PDeCAT meeting held on 21 July 2018, Pascal resigned from its leadership, declaring that she did not enjoy the confidence of Carles Puigdemont. At this assembly, David Bonvehí [ca] was appointed president of the PDeCAT and it was agreed to join the coalition within the Crida Nacional per la República.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Pardo Torregrosa, Iñaki (4 May 2018). "Marta Pascal y Lorena Roldán, las nuevas senadoras por designación autonómica" [Marta Pascal and Lorena Roldán, the New Senators by Autonomic Designation]. La Vanguardia (in Spanish). Barcelona. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Marta Pascal será la coordinadora del PDC, cuyo presidente será Mas" [Marta Pascal to be the Coordinator of the PDC, Whose President will be Mas] (in Spanish). Madrid: Antena 3. 23 July 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  3. ^ a b Martos, Gemma (22 July 2018). "PDeCat: David Bonvehí, nuevo presidente, en directo". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  4. ^ a b c "Marta Pascal será la nueva portavoz de CDC" [Marta Pascal will be the New CDC Spokesperson]. La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 19 July 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  5. ^ a b c d "Marta Pascal i Capdevila" (in Catalan). Parliament of Catalonia. Archived from the original on 11 October 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  6. ^ a b "Expresidenta de juventudes de CDC, Marta Pascal, será portavoz del partido" [Ex-CDC Youth President, Marta Pascal, will be Spokesperson of the Party]. ABC (in Spanish). EFE. 19 July 2015. Archived from the original on 15 February 2018. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  7. ^ "Marta Pascal". Democratic Convergence of Catalonia. Archived from the original on 1 May 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  8. ^ "Membres de la llista de Convergència i Unió al Parlament de Catalunya" [Members of the Convergence and Union List for the Parliament of Catalonia] (PDF) (in Catalan). Democratic Union of Catalonia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 July 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  9. ^ Villanueva, Nati; Arechederra, Luis P. (22 December 2017). "El juez imputa a Marta Rovira, Artur Mas y Anna Gabriel en la causa por rebelión" [The Judge Accuses Marta Rovira, Artur Mas, and Anna Gabriel in the Case for Rebellion]. ABC (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 October 2018.

External links edit