ERC, Oriol Junqueras - 10 things to know with detail
- 1. Oriol Junqueras is a prominent Catalan politician who currently serves as the leader of the Left Republican Catalan party (ERC) in Spain.
- 2. Junqueras was born on April 11, 1969, in Barcelona, Catalonia. He holds a Ph.D. in history and has been a professor at the University of Barcelona.
- 3. He has been involved in Catalan politics for many years and has been a member of the Catalan Parliament since 2010. He has also served as the Vice President of the Catalan government.
- 4. Junqueras is a strong advocate for Catalan independence and has been a key figure in the movement for Catalonia to secede from Spain.
- 5. In 2017, Junqueras was arrested by Spanish authorities for his role in organizing the Catalan independence referendum, which was declared illegal by the Spanish government. He was charged with sedition and rebellion.
- 6. Junqueras was sentenced to 13 years in prison for his involvement in the independence movement. He has been in prison since 2017 and continues to be a vocal advocate for Catalan independence.
- 7. Despite his imprisonment, Junqueras remains a popular figure in Catalonia and continues to lead the ERC party from behind bars.
- 8. Junqueras was elected as a Member of the European Parliament in 2019 while still in prison. However, his immunity as an MEP was lifted by the Spanish Supreme Court, and he was unable to take his seat.
- 9. Junqueras' imprisonment has sparked controversy and debate in Spain and internationally, with many arguing that his sentence is unjust and politically motivated.
- 10. Junqueras continues to be a leading voice in the Catalan independence movement and is seen as a symbol of resistance against the Spanish government's crackdown on the region's push for independence.