# Government of Carles Puigdemont

The Puigdemont Government was the regional government of Catalonia led by President Carles Puigdemont between 2016 and 2017. It was formed in January 2016 after the resignation of Puigdemont's predecessor Artur Mas and it ended in October 2017 with the imposition of direct rule following the Catalan declaration of independence.

## History

Following the 2015 regional election incumbent president Artur Mas failed to receive enough support in Parliament to continue in office and was forced to resign in January 2016. An agreement was reached between pro-Catalan independence parties Junts pel Sí (JxSí) and Popular Unity Candidacy (CUP) to replace Mas with Carles Puigdemont. At the investiture vote held on 10 January 2016 Puigdemont secured 70 votes (JxSí 62; CUP 8) with 63 votes against (Cs 25; PSC 16; CatSíqueesPot 11; PP 11) and two abstentions (CUP 2), exceeding the 68 votes necessary for an absolute majority.
| Investiture of Carles Puigdemont (CDC) | Yes | Yes | No | No | Abstentions | Abstentions |
| 10 January 2016 (1st ballot) (68/135 required) | 70 | • JxSí (62) • CUP (8) | 63 | • C's (25) • PSC (16) • CatSíqueesPot (11) • PP (11) | 2 | • CUP (2) |
| Source: historiaelectoral.com |||||||
In June 2017 Puigdemont announced that a referendum on Catalan independence would be held on 1 October 2017. The Catalan Parliament passed legislation on 6 September 2017 authorising the referendum which would be binding and based on a simple majority without a minimum threshold. The following day Constitutional Court of Spain suspended the legislation, blocking the referendum. The Spanish government put into effect Operation Anubis in order to disrupt the organisation of the referendum and arrested Catalan government officials. Despite this the referendum went ahead though it was boycotted by unionists and turnout was only 43%. 92% of those who voted supported independence. Around 900 people were injured as the Spanish police used violence to try to prevent voting in the referendum.
On 27 October 2017 the Catalan Parliament declared independence in a vote boycotted by opposition MPs. Almost immediately the Senate of Spain invoked article 155 of the constitution, dismissing Puigdemont and the Catalan government and imposing direct rule on Catalonia. The following day Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy dissolved the Catalan Parliament and called for fresh regional elections on 21 December 2017.
Puigdemont's cabinet governed Catalonia from 11 January 2016 to 27 October 2017, a total of 655 days, or 1 year, 9 months and 16 days. It was composed of members of Democratic Convergence of Catalonia (which was dissolved on 8 July 2016, replaced by the Catalan European Democratic Party on 10 July 2016), Republican Left of Catalonia, and some independents, all part of the JxSí electoral alliance.

## Executive Council

The Executive Council consisted of 13 conselleries (ministers) — not including the post of the President — as well as one vice president.

### Original members

| Name | Office | Took office | Left office | Party |
| Carles Puigdemont | President | 11 January 2016 | 27 October 2017 | Democratic Convergence of Catalonia |
| Oriol Junqueras | Vice President Minister of Economy and Finance | 13 January 2016 | 27 October 2017 | Republican Left of Catalonia |
| Jordi Baiget | Minister of Enterprise and Knowledge | 13 January 2016 | 3 July 2017 | Democratic Convergence of Catalonia |
| Dolors Bassa | Minister of Social Welfare, Employment and Family | 13 January 2016 | 27 October 2017 | Republican Left of Catalonia |
| Meritxell Borràs | Minister of Governance, Public Administration and Housing | 13 January 2016 | 27 October 2017 | Democratic Convergence of Catalonia |
| Antoni Comín | Minister of Health | 13 January 2016 | 27 October 2017 | Independent |
| Jordi Jané | Minister of the Interior | 13 January 2016 | 14 July 2017 | Democratic Convergence of Catalonia |
| Carles Mundó | Minister of Justice | 13 January 2016 | 27 October 2017 | Republican Left of Catalonia |
| Neus Munté | Minister of Presidency Spokesperson of the Government | 13 January 2016 | 14 July 2017 | Democratic Convergence of Catalonia |
| Raül Romeva | Minister of Foreign Affairs, Institutional Relations, and Transparency | 13 January 2016 | 27 October 2017 | Independent |
| Meritxell Ruiz | Minister of Education | 13 January 2016 | 14 July 2017 | Democratic Convergence of Catalonia |
| Josep Rull | Minister of Planning and Sustainability | 13 January 2016 | 27 October 2017 | Democratic Convergence of Catalonia |
| Meritxell Serret | Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food | 13 January 2016 | 27 October 2017 | Republican Left of Catalonia |
| Santi Vila | Minister of Culture | 13 January 2016 | 3 July 2017 | Democratic Convergence of Catalonia |

### Member changes

| Name | Office | Took office | Left office | Party |
| Santi Vila | Minister of Enterprise and Knowledge | 3 July 2017 | 27 October 2017 | Catalan European Democratic Party |
| Lluís Puig | Minister of Culture | 4 July 2017 | 27 October 2017 | Catalan European Democratic Party |
| Jordi Turull | Minister of Presidency Spokesperson of the Government | 14 July 2017 | 27 October 2017 | Catalan European Democratic Party |
| Joaquim Forn | Minister of the Interior | 14 July 2017 | 27 October 2017 | Catalan European Democratic Party |
| Clara Ponsatí | Minister of Education | 14 July 2017 | 27 October 2017 | Independent |
| Josep Rull | Minister of Enterprise and Knowledge (acting) | 27 October 2017 | 27 October 2017 | Catalan European Democratic Party |