Artur Mas

Artur Mas, born on January thirty-first, nineteen fifty-six, is a prominent Catalan politician and economist from Spain. He served as the president of the Government of Catalonia from two thousand ten to two thousand fifteen, and briefly as acting president from September two thousand fifteen until January twelfth, two thousand sixteen. A long-time member of the Democratic Convergence of Catalonia (CDC), Mas played a significant role in the political landscape of Catalonia, particularly through the electoral coalition Convergència i Unió (CiU), which dominated regional politics since the nineteen eighties.

In two thousand one, Mas was appointed general secretary of CDC, and by two thousand twelve, he had ascended to the presidency of the party. His leadership continued until the party was refounded in July two thousand sixteen as PDeCAT, which he presided over until January two thousand eighteen. Throughout his political career, Mas has run for the Catalan presidency five times between two thousand three and two thousand fifteen, achieving victory in two elections, though without an absolute majority.

Mas is an economist by training, having obtained his degree from the University of Barcelona. He is fluent in multiple languages, including English, French, Catalan, and Spanish. His political ideology is generally viewed as liberal, particularly in economic matters, and he has been a vocal supporter of Catalan independence. While he has championed a moderate social agenda, he has not fully endorsed same-sex marriage and has allowed for internal debate on issues like abortion within his party.

In two thousand ten, Mas made headlines by expressing his intention to vote 'Yes' in a hypothetical referendum for Catalan secession from Spain. This marked a pivotal shift in his political agenda, with sovereignty and independence becoming central themes during his tenure. His influence was crucial in steering CDC towards a more separatist stance, reflecting the evolving political dynamics in Catalonia.