Josep Rull

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix = The Right Honourable

| name = Josep Rull

| honorific_suffix = MP

| image = Carles Puigdemont and Josep Rull (cropped).jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Josep Rull in 2024

| order1 = 18th

| office1 = President of the Parliament of Catalonia

| term_start1 = 10 June 2024

| term_end1 =

| predecessor1 = Anna Erra

| vicepresident1 = Raquel Sans
David Pérez

| successor1 =

| order2 =

| office2 = Member of the Congress of Deputies

| term_start2 = 20 May 2019

| term_end2 = 24 May 2019 {{small|(suspended)}}

| constituency2 = Tarragona

| office3 = Minister of Territory and Sustainability of Catalonia

| term_start3 = 14 January 2016

| term_end3 = 27 October 2017

| president3 = Carles Puigdemont

| predecessor3 = Santi Vila

| successor3 = Damià Calvet
{{small|(Direct rule until 2 June 2018)}}

| office4 = Acting Minister of Enterprise and Knowledge of Catalonia

| term_start4 = 27 October 2017

| term_end4 = 27 October 2017

| president4 = Carles Puigdemont

| predecessor4 = Santi Vila

| successor4 = Maria Àngels Chacón
{{small|(Direct rule until 2 June 2018)}}

| office5 = Member of the Parliament of Catalonia

| constituency5 = Barcelona

| term_start5 = 10 June 2024

| term_end5 =

| constituency6 = Barcelona

| term_start6 = 22 September 1997

| term_end6 = 18 May 2019
{{small|(suspended from 10 July 2018 to 13 February 2023)}}

| birth_name = Josep Rull i Andreu

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1968|9|2|df=y}}

| birth_place = Terrassa, Spain

| death_date =

| death_place =

| citizenship = Spanish

| nationality =

| party = Junts (since 2020)

| otherparty = CDC (1989–2016)
PDeCAT (2016–2020)

| spouse =

| children =

| residence =

| alma_mater = Autonomous University of Barcelona

| occupation = Lawyer

| signature =

| website =

| footnotes =

}}

Josep Rull i Andreu ({{IPA|ca|ʒuˈzɛb ˈruʎ}}; born 2 September 1968){{Cite web|url=https://www.ccma.cat/324/josep-rull-conseller-de-territori-i-sostenibilitat/noticia/2707117/|title = Josep Rull, conseller de Territori i Sostenibilitat|date = 14 January 2016}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.elmundo.es/cataluna/2018/05/19/5b0025e346163fdc388b456e.html|title=Josep Rull, el único conseller de Puigdemont que fue a su despacho tras el 155|date=19 May 2018}} is a Spanish politician from Catalonia serving as President of the Parliament of Catalonia since June 2024. He previously served as the Counselor of Territory and Sustainability of Catalonia at the Government of Carles Puigdemont between 2016 and 2017, when Spanish Rajoy's Government ceased the Catalan executive following the Catalan declaration of independence amid the application of Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution. Between 2 November and 4 December 2017, Rull was jailed and again on 23 March 2018. He was a member of the Catalan Parliament but on 10 July 2018 a Supreme Court judge suspended him as a deputy.[https://elpais.com/politica/2018/07/10/actualidad/1531222075_746937.html Llarena cierra el sumario del ‘procés’ y suspende como diputados a Puigdemont y Junqueras] Published by El País, 10 July 2018. Retrieved 10 July 2018.

In the April 2019 Spanish general election, Rull was head of the Together for Catalonia candidacy for the Province of Tarragona. After being elected for the Congress of Deputies, he resigned as member of the Parliament of Catalonia on 18 May 2019.[https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20190517/462295766288/jordi-sanchez-jordi-turull-josep-rull-renuncia-escano-parlament-congreso.html Sànchez, Turull y Rull renuncian a su escaño del Parlament para entrar en el Congreso] {{in lang|es}} He was sworn in on 20 May 2019;[https://www.elperiodico.com/es/politica/20190521/juramento-politicos-presos-electos-7465735 Junqueras, Sànchez, Rull y Turull prometen "como presos políticos"] {{in lang|es}} on 24 May 2019, by a recommendation of the Supreme Court, the Board of the Congress suspended him and other Catalan independence leaders that were elected lawmakers.[https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20190524/462430524002/informe-letrados-avala-suspension-diputados-presos.html La Mesa del Congreso suspende a los diputados presos con los votos de PSOE, PP y Cs] {{in lang|es}}{{cite web |title=Spanish parliament suspends jailed Catalan lawmakers |website=Reuters |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221215101456/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-spain-politics/spanish-parliament-suspends-jailed-catalan-leaders-rights-as-lawmakers-idUSKCN1SU1BP |archive-date=15 December 2022 |url-status=live |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-spain-politics/spanish-parliament-suspends-jailed-catalan-leaders-rights-as-lawmakers-idUSKCN1SU1BP}} He was pardoned and released, along with the other 8 jailed Catalonia independence leaders, in June 2021.{{Cite news |last=Jones |first=Sam |date=2021-06-22 |title=Spanish government pardons nine jailed Catalan leaders |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/22/spanish-government-pardons-nine-jailed-catalan-leaders |access-date=2023-09-11 |issn=0261-3077}} On 13 February 2023, he had his disqualification waived by the Supreme Court, allowing him again to run for office.{{cite web| url=https://www.poderjudicial.es/cgpj/es/Poder-Judicial/Sala-de-Prensa/Archivo-de-notas-de-prensa/El-TS-condena-a-Junqueras--Romeva--Turull-y-Bassa-por-desobediencia-en-concurso-con-malversacion-y-mantiene-sus-penas-de-inhabilitacion-absoluta |title=El TS condena a Junqueras, Romeva, Turull y Bassa por desobediencia en concurso con malversación y mantiene sus penas de inhabilitación absoluta |language=es |date=13 February 2023}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20230214/8755551/rull-deja-aire-vuelta-primera-linea-politica-quedar-habilitado.html |title=Rull deja en el aire su vuelta a la primera línea política tras quedar habilitado |language=es |date=14 February 2023}}{{Cite news| url=https://www.elconfidencial.com/espana/cataluna/2023-02-14/supremo-paso-libre-rull-candidato-generalitat_3575468/ |title=El Supremo despeja el camino a Josep Rull para ser el candidato de JxCAT a la Generalitat |language=es |date=14 February 2023}} On June 10 2024, after being elected as deputy in that year's elections, he was sworn in as President of the Parliament of Catalonia.{{cite news |url=https://www.catalannews.com/politics/item/catalan-parliament-speaker-named-first-session-after-election |title=Pro-independence parties name Josep Rull of Junts+ new parliament speaker |date=20 June 2024}}{{cite news |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20240610/9721174/josep-rull-nuevo-presidente-parlament.html |title=Josep Rull, nuevo presidente del Parlament con los votos de Junts, ERC y la CUP |date=20 June 2024 |language=es}}

Biography

Graduate in Law from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, he is a member of the Illustrious Bar Association of Terrassa.

= Local career =

In 1986 he joined the "Nationalist Youth of Catalonia" (JNC) in Terrassa, and he was the general secretary of this organization between 1994 and 1998. In 1989 he joined the political party Democratic Convergence of Catalonia. Between 1993 and 1995 he worked as a collaborator of the legal services of the Catalan Association of Municipalities and later as the head of the Institutional Relations of the Board of Waste (1995–1997).

In local elections of 2003, he presented himself for the first time as the list head of CiU in Terrassa City Council, where he was the president of the Municipal Group of CiU in the Consorcio Egarenc. He also served as a member of the Informative Coordination Commissions with the Autonomous Organizations, General Services and Municipal Societies, in the Boards of Directors of the Municipal Institute of Culture and Sports (IMCET) and the Municipal Institute of Health and Social Welfare (IMSBS), of the General Meeting of Eco Equip, of the General Meeting of the Municipal Communication Society of Terrassa and of the General Meeting and member of the Board of Directors of EGARVIA. A

= Deputy at Catalan Parliament and Counselor of Territory and Sustainability =

Deputy in the Parliament of Catalonia since 1997, during the VIII legislature he was the spokesman of the Parliamentary Group of Convergence and Union (CiU) and spokesman of this group to the Territorial Policy commission. In the IX legislature, in 2010, he was elected third secretary of the chamber, position for which he was again chosen in the 10th, in 2012.[https://www.naciodigital.cat/noticia/57084/josep/rull/tintin/es/torna/indepe Josep Rull, en Tintín es torna indepe] {{in lang|ca}}

On 14 January 2016, he became the Minister of Territory and Sustainability of the Government of Carles Puigdemont.[http://territori.gencat.cat/ca/01_departament/01_salutacio_del_conseller Josep Rull, nou conseller de Territori i Sostenibilitat] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212125004/http://territori.gencat.cat/ca/01_departament/01_salutacio_del_conseller/ |date=12 February 2019 }} {{in lang|ca}}[http://dogc.gencat.cat/ca/pdogc_canals_interns/pdogc_resultats_fitxa/?action=fitxa&documentId=713650&language=ca_ES DECRET 3/2016, de 13 de gener, pel qual es nomenen el vicepresident del Govern, els consellers i conselleres dels departaments de la Generalitat de Catalunya i el secretari del Govern.] {{in lang|ca}} On the same day he announced that he left the General Coordination of Democratic Convergence of Catalonia and that he would not appear to be the new leader of the party.[https://www.estrelladigital.es/articulo/catalunha/josep-rull-deja-ser-coordinador-general-cdc/20160118181115268426.html Josep Rull deja de ser coordinador general de CDC] {{in lang|es}}

= Imprisonment =

{{Main|Catalan independence referendum, 2017|Catalan declaration of independence|2017–18 Spanish constitutional crisis|Trial of Catalonia independence leaders}}

On 27 October 2017, after the Parliament of Catalonia proclaimed the Catalan Republic, the Senate approved the measures proposed by the government under the protection of article 155 of the Spanish Constitution, including the dismissal of the President of the Generalitat of Catalonia and all of its Government of Catalonia, including Rull. Immediately after it was published in the Official State Gazette,[https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/2017/10/27/pdfs/BOE-A-2017-12328.pdf Orden PRA/1034/2017, de 27 de octubre, por la que se publica el Acuerdo del Consejo de Ministros de 21 de octubre de 2017, por el que, en aplicación de lo dispuesto en el artículo 155 de la Constitución, se tiene por no atendido el requerimiento planteado al M. H. Sr. Presidente de la Generalitat de Cataluña, para que la Generalitat de Cataluña proceda al cumplimiento de sus obligaciones constitucionales y a la cesación de sus actuaciones gravemente contrarias al interés general, y se proponen al Senado para su aprobación las medidas necesarias para garantizar el cumplimiento de las obligaciones constitucionales y para la protección del mencionado interés general.] {{in lang|es}} followed by suspension of autonomy.

In November 2017 eight members of the Catalan Government, including Josep Rull, Oriol Junqueras, Jordi Turull, Meritxell Borràs, Carles Mundó, Raül Romeva, Dolors Bassa, Joaquim Forn and Santi Vila, who resigned few weeks ago, declared before the judge from the Audiencia Nacional Carmen Lamela for a rebellion crime.[https://www.eldiario.es/politica/exconsellers-Puigdemont-acuden-Audiencia-Nacional_0_703779714.html La Fiscalía pide prisión incondicional para Junqueras y siete exconsellers de Puigdemont y fianza a Santi Vila] {{in lang|es}}[http://www.rtve.es/noticias/20171031/audiencia-cita-jueves-viernes-puigdemont-exconsellers-para-declarar-rebelion/1631564.shtml La Audiencia cita el jueves y viernes a Puigdemont y sus exconsellers para declarar por rebelión] {{in lang|es}}{{cite web |title=Spanish judge jails eight members of former Catalan government |date=2 November 2017 |website=The Guardian |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230501052011/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/02/spanish-court-question-catalonia-separatists-except-puigdemont |archive-date=1 May 2023 |url-status=live |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/02/spanish-court-question-catalonia-separatists-except-puigdemont}} The prosecutor, requested unconditional jail for all members of the Catalan Government.[http://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20171102/432547101813/llegan-carcel-miembros-govern-puigdemont.html Junqueras y los exconsellers pasan su primera noche en prisión] {{in lang|es}} On 4 December he and some other members of the Government were released on bail.[https://www.elindependiente.com/politica/2017/12/04/los-seis-ex-consellers-del-govern-salen-prision-tras-pagar-100-000e-fianza/ Los seis ex ‘consellers’ del Govern salen de prisión tras pagar 100.000€ de fianza] {{in lang|es}}

In the elections to the Parliament of Catalonia of 2017, Rull was elected deputy with the list of Together for Catalonia.[https://www.vilaweb.cat/noticies/el-pdcat-registra-la-marca-electoral-junts-per-catalunya-la-llista-que-liderara-puigdemont/ Junts per Catalunya, la llista del PDECat que encapçalarà Puigdemont] {{in lang|ca}} On 23 March 2018, the magistrate of the Spanish Supreme Court Pablo Llarena ordered his entry to prison, as well as for presidential candidate Jordi Turull, former Speaker of the Parliament Carme Forcadell and the regional counselors Raül Romeva and Dolors Bassa. Llarena argued unconditional provisional bail without bail for five after considering that there was a risk of leakage and reiteration of the crimes for which they were prosecuted.{{cite web |title=Spanish court remands Catalan presidential candidate in custody |date=23 March 2018 |website=The Guardian |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230617042510/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/23/jordi-turull-latest-candidate-catalan-presidency-appear-court-spain |archive-date=17 June 2023 |url-status=live |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/23/jordi-turull-latest-candidate-catalan-presidency-appear-court-spain}}[http://www.elmundo.es/espana/2018/03/23/5ab4f543468aebe24f8b4591.html El juez Llarena manda a prisión a Turull, Forcadell, Bassa, Rull y Romeva por riesgo de fuga] {{in lang|es}}

On 4 July 2018, Rull was transferred to Lledoners Prison in Catalonia. Since then, several concentrations of support took place at the door of the prison.{{Cite news|url=https://www.regio7.cat/fet-divers/2018/07/04/preso-del-bages-ple-focus/485112.html|title=Ple focus mediàtic a Lledoners la jornada en què arriben els presos al Bages|date=4 July 2018|work=Regió7|access-date=3 February 2019|language=ca}} From 3 December until 20 December 2018, he went on a hunger strike. Same month, the International Association of Democratic Lawyers issued a statement requesting the release of "Catalan political prisoners".{{Cite web|url=http://iadllaw.org/2018/12/iadl-calls-for-release-of-catalan-political-prisoners/|title=IADL calls for release of Catalan political prisoners|date=3 December 2018|website=International Association of Democratic Lawyers|access-date=30 December 2018}} On 1 February 2019, he was transferred back to the Madrilenian prison of Soto del Real to face the trial that began on 12 February 2019.{{Cite news|url=https://elpais.com/elpais/2019/02/01/inenglish/1549019566_593245.html|title=Catalan independence leaders moved to Madrid jails ahead of trial|last=Congostrina|first=Alfonso L.|date=1 February 2019|work=El País|access-date=2 February 2019|language=en|issn=1134-6582}} and ended and was remitted to decision on 12 June 2019.{{cite web |title=Trial of Catalan Independence Leaders Ends in Spain (Published 2019) |website=The New York Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230429045317/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/12/world/europe/spain-catalan-leaders-trial.html |archive-date=29 April 2023 |url-status=live |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/12/world/europe/spain-catalan-leaders-trial.html}} On 14 October 2019, he was sentenced to a 10 years and a half prison term and disqualification for the sedition crime.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/14/catalan-separatist-leaders-given-lengthy-prison-sentences|title=Violent clashes over Catalan separatist leaders' prison terms|date=14 October 2019|work=The Guardian|access-date=14 October 2019}}[https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/10/spain-court-hands-catalan-leaders-13-years-jail-191014073841612.html Catalan separatist leaders handed jail terms for independence bid][https://elpais.com/politica/2019/10/14/actualidad/1571033446_440448.html Sentencia del ‘procés’: penas de 9 a 13 años para Junqueras y los otros líderes por sedición y malversación] {{in lang|es}}

= Pardon =

He was pardoned and released, along with the other 8 jailed Catalonia independence leaders, in June 2021. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said that he pardoned them because it was the best decision for Spain and Catalonia but did not overturn their bans from holding public office.{{Cite news |last=Jones |first=Sam |date=2021-06-22 |title=Spanish government pardons nine jailed Catalan leaders |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/22/spanish-government-pardons-nine-jailed-catalan-leaders |access-date=2023-09-11 |issn=0261-3077}}