Quim Torra

Torra was born on 28 December 1962 in Blanes, a town in the Province of Girona in north-eastern Catalonia (Spain).{{cite news|title=Perfil · Quim Torra, exlíder d'Òmnium proper a Puigdemont per presidir el Govern Regional|url=http://www.diaridegirona.cat/catalunya/2018/05/10/perfil-quim-torra/912795.html|access-date=11 May 2018|work=Diari de Girona|date=11 May 2018|location=Girona, Spain|language=ca}}{{cite news|last1=Martí|first1=Pep|title=Les 10 coses que potser no sabies de Quim Torra|url=https://www.naciodigital.cat/noticia/154651/10/coses/potser/no/sabies/quim/torra|access-date=11 May 2018|work=NacióDigital|date=11 May 2018|location=Barcelona, Spain|language=ca |trans-title=10 Things You May Not Know About Quim Torra}} He is the third of four children (three boys and one girl).{{cite news|last1=Aragay|first1=Ignasi|title=La Catalunya impossible de Quim Torra|url=https://www.ara.cat/politica/Catalunya-impossible-Quim-Torra_0_2012199010.html|access-date=14 May 2018|work=Ara|date=10 May 2018|location=Barcelona, Spain|language=ca |trans-title=Quim Torra's Impossible Catalonia}} His family were originally from Santa Coloma de Farners but moved to Blanes where his father, also known as Quim Torra, worked as an engineer at the Sociedad Anónima de Fibras Artificiales (SAFA) plant.{{cite news|title=El Perfil – Qui és Quim Torra?|url=http://www.regio7.cat/arreu-catalunya-espanya-mon/2018/05/10/perfil--quim-torra/475079.html|access-date=14 May 2018|work=Regió 7|date=11 May 2018|location=Manresa, Spain|language=ca |trans-title=Profile: Who Is Quim Torra?}} The family then moved to Barcelona where Torra's father worked as a manager for SAFA. Torra was educated at St. Ignatius College, Barcelona, better known as Jesuïtes Sarrià.

Torra joined the Autonomous University of Barcelona in 1980, graduating in 1985 with a degree in law.{{cite news|last1=Lasalas|first1=Marta|title=Quim Torra to be 131st president of Catalonia|url=https://www.elnacional.cat/en/news/quim-torra-new-president-catalonia_266886_102.html|access-date=11 May 2018|work=El Nacional|date=10 May 2018|location=Barcelona, Spain}} His parents later returned to Santa Coloma de Farners where his father was a municipal councillor in 1991 and where his widowed mother still lives.

File:Quim Torra.JPG

Torra worked as an executive for Winterthur Group, a multinational insurance company, for nearly twenty years including two years at the company's offices in the Canton of Zürich in Switzerland. Whilst in Switzerland he started researching Eugeni Xammar, a Catalan journalist who worked for the United Nations, igniting a passion for Catalan journalism during the 1920s and 1930s.{{cite news|last1=Cardús|first1=Pere|title=Quim Torra, l'home que no prenia precaucions|url=https://www.vilaweb.cat/noticies/quim-torra-perfil-biografia-trajectoria-quim-torra-lhome-que-no-prenia-precaucions/|access-date=14 May 2018|work=VilaWeb|date=10 May 2018|language=ca}} When AXA took over Winterthur Torra was offered a position in Madrid but he chose to return to Catalonia to devote himself to journalism and publishing.

File:Inauguració d'El 300 del Born.jpg

In 2008 Torra founded A Contra Vent Editors, a publisher specialising in literary and humorous journalism, focusing on the revival of Catalonia's literary and journalistic tradition during the 1920s and 1930s. Torra has written several books on the history of Catalonia, journalism and biographies and in 2009 he won the "Carles Rahola" award for "Viatge Involuntari a la Catalunya Impossible", an essay on the history of Catalan journalism that mixes fact and fiction to narrate the life of several Catalan journalists during the Second Spanish Republic, including Just Cabot, Lluís Capdevila, Àngel Ferran, Manuel Fontdevila and Francisco Madrid.{{cite news|title=Quim Torra, un independentista irreductible, sin carné de partido y fiel a Puigdemont|url=http://www.rtve.es/noticias/20180510/quim-torra-abogado-independentista-exlider-omnium-como-candidato-jxcat-generalitat/1731384.shtml|access-date=11 May 2018|work=RTVE|date=10 May 2018|location=Madrid, Spain|language=es}} He has also written articles for the Ara, El Punt Avui, El Temps and Nació Digital.

From September 2011 to 2015, during the mayorship of Xavier Trias, Torra was in charge of promoting the district of Ciutat Vella as director of Foment de Ciutat Vella, SA. In June 2012 he became director of the Born Centre de Cultura i Memòria but in September 2015, shortly after Ada Colau became mayor, he left the organisation. He was appointed director of Revista de Catalunya in May 2015.{{cite news|title=Quim Torra, nou director de la Revista de Catalunya|url=https://llegim.ara.cat/Quim_Torra-Revista_de_Catalunya_0_1359464253.html|access-date=14 May 2018|work=Ara|date=18 May 2015|location=Barcelona, Spain|language=ca}} He was director of the Generalitat's Center for Contemporary Subject Studies from March 2016 to October 2017.{{cite news|title=Torra, un independentista sin carné de partido ungido para una etapa provisional|url=http://www.laregion.es/articulo/espanha/torra-independentista-carne-partido-ungido-etapa-provisional/20180510214007792072.html|access-date=11 May 2018|work=La Región|date=10 May 2018|location=Ourense, Spain|language=es}} He is currently working as a lawyer and is a member of the Bar Association of Barcelona.

File:Assemblea General 2015 (23614708330).jpg's general assembly in December 2015]]

Torra is a member of the pro-Catalan independence Òmnium Cultural (OC), of which he was vice-president from 2013 to 2015, and Assemblea Nacional Catalana (ANC). He was president of the pro-independence Sobirania i Justícia from 2010 to 2011 and a member of the permanent council of the ANC in 2012. In 2011 Torra and lawyer Jordi Cortada filed a lawsuit before the European Court of Human Rights against the Constitutional Court's re-writing of the Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia. When the OC president, Muriel Casals i Couturier, was chosen as a candidate for the 2015 Catalan regional election Torra was appointed as president in July 2015, serving until December 2015 when he was replaced by Jordi Cuixart.

Torra was associated with the Democratic Union of Catalonia (UDC), a regionalist center-right party, and later Reagrupament, a splinter group of the left-wing pro-independence Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC).{{cite news|last1=Álvaro|first1=Francesc-Marc|title=Quim Torra, un activista cultural de los años treinta|url=http://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20180511/443481390353/quim-torra-candidato-jxcat-presidencia-generalitat-puigdemont.html|access-date=11 May 2018|work=La Vanguardia|date=11 May 2018|location=Barcelona, Spain|language=es}}{{cite news|last1=Geli|first1=Carles|title=Quim Torra, un interino nato contra todo lo español|url=https://elpais.com/ccaa/2018/05/10/catalunya/1525975949_763217.html|access-date=11 May 2018|work=El País|date=11 May 2018|location=Madrid, Spain|language=es}} Torra is not a member of any political party and is known to have reservations about certain policies of the Catalan European Democratic Party (PDeCAT), the main constituent of the pro-independence Together for Catalonia (JuntsxCat) electoral alliance. He is believed to be on good terms with the left-wing pro-independence Popular Unity Candidacy (CUP) which is not a member of JuntsxCat.

File:Quim Torra pren possessió com a president de la Generalitat.jpg on 17 May 2018]]

Torra contested the 2017 regional election as an independent JuntsxCat candidate in the Province of Barcelona and was elected to the Parliament of Catalonia.{{cite web|title=Eleccions al Parlament de Catalunya 2017: Composició del Parlament|url=https://resultats.parlament2017.cat/09AU/DAU09000XX.htm?lang=ca|publisher=Generalitat de Catalunya|access-date=17 January 2018|language=ca|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222105244/https://resultats.parlament2017.cat/09AU/DAU09000XX.htm?lang=ca|archive-date=22 December 2017|trans-title=2017 Elections to the Parliament of Catalonia: Composition of Parliament}}{{cite news|title=Los 135 diputados del Parlament de Catalunya tras el 21-D|url=http://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20171222/433822338283/lista-diputados-elecciones-catalanas-parlament-de-catalunya.html|access-date=11 May 2018|work=La Vanguardia|date=22 December 2017|location=Barcelona, Spain|language=ca|trans-title=The 135 deputies of the Parliament of Catalonia after 21-D}} At the election Catalan secessionists retained a slim majority in the Catalan Parliament.{{cite news|last1=Jackson|first1=Russell|title=Catalan independence supporters win majority in election|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/world/catalan-independence-supporters-win-majority-in-election-1-4645383|access-date=31 December 2017|work=The Scotsman|date=22 December 2017|location=Edinburgh, U.K.}}{{cite news|last1=Parra|first1=Aritz|last2=Giles|first2=Ciaran|title=Catalan secessionist parties win slim majority in regional parliament|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2017/12/21/spain-holds-breath-as-deeply-divided-catalonia-votes-in-regional-elections.html|access-date=31 December 2017|work=Toronto Star|agency=Associated Press|date=21 December 2017|location=Toronto, Canada}} Attempts by the secessionists to inaugurate three candidates – Carles Puigdemont, Jordi Sànchez and Jordi Turull – as President of Catalonia were thwarted by the Spanish courts. In May 2018 Torra, the so-called "plan D", was nominated as candidate for president.{{cite news|last1=Strange|first1=Hannah|title=Catalans nominate 'radical' presidential candidate Quim Torra|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/05/11/catalans-nominate-radical-presidential-candidatequim-torra/|access-date=11 May 2018|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=11 May 2018|location=London, U.K.}} At the investiture vote held on 12 May 2018 Torra secured 66 votes (JuntsxCat 34; ERC–CatSí 32) with 65 votes against (Cs 36; PSC 17; CatComú–Podem 8; PP 4) and four abstentions (CUP-CC 4), failing to achieve the 68 votes necessary for an absolute majority.{{cite news|title=Catalan lawmakers fail to agree on new president in first-round vote|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/catalan-lawmakers-fail-to-agree-on-new-president-in-first-round-vote|access-date=12 May 2018|work=The Straits Times|agency=Agence France-Presse|date=12 May 2018|location=Singapore}}{{cite news|last1=Guasch|first1=Albert|title=Catalunya: Pleno de investidura de Quim Torra en directo|url=http://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20180512/443520388757/pleno-investidura-quim-torra-parlament-cataluna-en-directo.html|access-date=12 May 2018|work=La Vanguardia|date=12 May 2018|location=Barcelona, Spain|language=es}} As a result, a second vote was held on 14 May 2018 at which he only needed a simple majority to become president.{{cite news|title=Separatists fail to elect Quim Torra as new Catalonia leader|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2018/05/separatists-fail-elect-quim-torra-catalonia-leader-180512182759470.html|access-date=12 May 2018|work=Al Jazeera|date=12 May 2018|location=Doha, Qatar}}{{cite news|title=Torra not elected in first round – second vote called for Monday|url=http://www.catalannews.com/highlights/item/torra-not-elected-in-first-round-second-vote-called-for-monday?category_id=32|access-date=12 May 2018|work=Catalan News Agency|date=12 May 2018|location=Barcelona, Spain}} The result of the second vote was exactly the same as the first vote – 66 in favour, 65 against and four abstentions – and as a result Torra was elected the 131st President of Catalonia.{{cite news|title=Catalans elect new separatist leader Quim Torra|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-44109500|access-date=14 May 2018|work=BBC News|date=14 May 2018|location=London, U.K.}}{{cite news|last1=Cutrona|first1=Judith|title=Quim Torra, investido president de la Generalitat de Catalunya. Las reacciones en directo|url=http://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20180514/443577098285/pleno-investidura-quim-torra-parlament-cataluna-en-directo.html|access-date=14 May 2018|work=La Vanguardia|date=14 May 2018|location=Barcelona, Spain|language=es |trans-title=Quim Torra, invested president of the Generalitat de Catalunya. Live reactions}}{{cite news|title=Nuevo presidente en Cataluña: últimas noticias de Quim Torra en directo|url=https://elpais.com/ccaa/2018/05/14/catalunya/1526278431_661081.html|access-date=14 May 2018|work=El País|date=14 May 2018|location=Madrid, Spain|language=es |trans-title=New president in Catalonia: The latest news on Quim Torra live}} He was sworn in on 17 May 2018.{{cite news|title=New Catalan leader Quim Torra shuns constitution as sworn in|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2018/may/17/new-catalan-leader-quim-torra-shuns-constitution-as-sworn-in-1815907.html|access-date=17 May 2018|work=The New Indian Express|agency=Agence France-Presse|date=17 May 2018|location=Chennai, India}} On 19 May he appointed his government, which included as regional ministers, Jordi Turull and Josep Rull (in preventive custody) as well as Toni Comín and Lluís Puig, in self-imposed exile in Belgium and also required by the Spanish justice.{{cite news |title=Catalonia's cabinet picks are 'provocation' says Spain's ruling party |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-spain-politics-catalonia/catalonias-cabinet-picks-are-provocation-says-spains-ruling-party-idUSKCN1IK0MB |work=Reuters |date=19 May 2018}}{{cite news |title=Catalonia postpones swearing in new regional government |url=https://www.thelocal.es/20180523/catalonia-postpones-swearing-in-new-regional-government |work=The Local |date=23 May 2018}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.catalannews.com/politics/item/torra-nominates-new-government-including-jailed-and-exiled-officials|title=Torra nominates new government including jailed and exiled officials|last=Bathgate|first=Rachel|date=19 May 2018 |agency=Catalan News Agency|access-date=2018-06-04}} Since article 155 was still in force, Mariano Rajoy decided not to publish the appointments in the Generalitat government gazette, which led to a criminal complaint for prevarication brought by President Torra. In order to avoid extending the application of article 155, on 29 May President Torra appointed a new government,{{Cite web|url=http://www.catalannews.com/politics/item/new-cabinet-most-egalitarian-ever|title=New cabinet most egalitarian ever|last=Bathgate|first=Rachel|website=catalannews.com|date=29 May 2018 |access-date=2018-06-04}} which took office on 2 June, which ended a period of seven months of direct rule on Catalonia from Madrid.

In December 2018, Torra announced a 48-hour fast in solidarity with the prisoners of Lledoners who were carrying out a hunger strike, Jordi Sànchez, Jordi Turull, Joaquim Forn and Josep Rull.{{Cite web|url=https://catalunyadiari.com/politica/torra-desjuni-presos|title=ÚLTIMA HORA: La decisió de Torra que ha sorprès molta gent|last=Staff|website=CatalunyaDiari.cat|date=7 December 2018|language=ca|access-date=2018-12-07 |trans-title=Last Minute: Torra's Decision That Surprised Many}}

The tone and content of some articles written by Torra in 2012 criticizing anti-Catalanism and Spain have elicited strong criticism from numerous sectors. Critics have accused Torra of being xenophobic and a supremacist.{{cite news|last1=Hedgecoe|first1=Guy|title=Catalan pro-independence candidate could break deadlock|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/catalan-pro-independence-candidate-could-break-deadlock-1.3492149|access-date=11 May 2018|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=11 May 2018|location=Dublin, Ireland}}{{cite news|title=Los tuits supremacistas de Quim Torra no son un bulo|url=https://www.elplural.com/politica/2018/05/11/malditobulo-tuits-supremacistas-quim-torra-no-bulo-omnium|access-date=12 May 2018|work=El Plural|date=11 May 2018|language=es}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.regio7.cat/arreu-catalunya-espanya-mon/2018/10/10/tsjc-creu-que-hi-hauria/502673.html|title=El TSJC creu que hi hauria delicte d'odi en un article de Torra però ja ha prescrit|date=2018-10-09|work=Regió 7|access-date=2019-08-16|language=ca}} In an online editorial, he metaphorically described people who live in Catalonia but reject Catalan-nationalism and culture as "beasts" or "scavengers, vipers, hyenas", who have "a little bump in their DNA chain".{{Cite web|url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/politica/20180514/quim-torra-articulos-contra-espanoles-6817795|title=El pensamiento antiespañol de Quim Torra, a través de sus artículos|last=Staff|date=14 May 2018|website=elperiodico}}{{Cite web|url=http://elmon.cat/monterrassa/opinio/5052/la-llengua-i-les-bsties|title=La llengua i les bèsties|website=MónTerrassa |language=ca}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.elnacional.cat/ca/opinio/eva-garcia-quim-torra-analisi-descriptiva-llengua-besties_271095_102.html|title=Anàlisi descriptiva de "La llengua i les bèsties", de Quim Torra|last=Garcia-Pinos|first=Eva|date=2018-05-24|work=El Nacional|access-date=2019-07-06|language=ca}} In addition, several tweets from 2012 that he later removed included sentences like "Spaniards only know how to plunder" and "Spaniards in Catalonia are like energy – they transform themselves but do not disappear".{{cite news|last1=Baquero|first1=Camilo S.|title=Investiture vote called for hard-line Catalan separatist Quim Torra|url=https://elpais.com/elpais/2018/05/11/inenglish/1526026985_170608.html|access-date=14 May 2018|work=El País|date=11 May 2018|location=Madrid, Spain}}{{cite news|last1=Jones|first1=Sam|title=Hopes of end to Catalan impasse as Puigdemont anoints new successor|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/11/carles-puigdemont-proposes-quim-torra-successor-catalonia-government|access-date=11 May 2018|work=The Guardian|date=11 May 2018}}{{cite news|last1=Stothard|first1=Michael|title=Catalonia set to vote on Quim Torra as regional head|url=https://www.ft.com/content/5a3cddcc-5511-11e8-b3ee-41e0209208ec|access-date=11 May 2018|work=Financial Times|date=11 May 2018}}

At European level, the President of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe group, Hans van Baalen condemned his rhetoric as "separatist and racist"{{cite web|url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/politica/20180515/el-partido-europeo-que-integra-al-pdecat-tambien-critica-a-torra-6821037|title=El partido europeo que integra al PDECat también critica a Torra|first=El|last=Periódico|date=15 May 2018}} and the Party of European Socialists stated that "his racist remarks are utterly disgusting and cast deep doubts about his fitness for the job".{{cite web|url=http://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20180514/443580546097/bruselas-ignora-polemicos-escritos-quim-torra.html|title=Bruselas ignora los polémicos escritos de Quim Torra: "No los dignificaré con un comentario"|date=14 May 2018}} The Catalan chapter of French NGO SOS Racisme also criticized the tone of the articles, but stated they cannot be considered racism.{{Cite news|url=http://www.sosracisme.org/old/portada/posicionament-sobre-la-polemica-entorn-el-sr-joaquim-torra|title=Aclariment i posicionament sobre la polèmica entorn el Sr. Joaquim Torra|date=18 May 2018|work=SOS Racisme|access-date=21 May 2018|language=ca}} Torra apologised for the tweets after being nominated to be president.{{cite news|last1=Orriols|first1=Núria|title=Torra: "Només contemplo la possibilitat d'obeir el que decideixi el Parlament"|url=https://www.ara.cat/politica/Torra-Nomes-contemplo-possibilitat-Parlament_0_2012798881.html|access-date=14 May 2018|work=Ara|date=11 May 2018|location=Barcelona, Spain|language=ca}}

File:Llibertat Presos Polítics Ajuntament Barcelona.jpg) sign hung at the Barcelona City Hall, a similar one would be hung on the balcony of the Palau de la Generalitat by Torra from June 2018 to March 2019 and again from May to September 2019, when it was ultimately ordered removed by mandamushttps://beteve.cat/politica/tsjc-mossos-esquadra-retiren-pancarta-generalitat/ after Torra's refusal.]] File:187 Palau de la Generalitat (Barcelona), durant la diada de Sant Jordi de 2021.jpg" sign from March to May 2019 after the previous sign was considered partisan by the High Court of Justice of Catalonia.]]

On 19 December 2019, Torra was sentenced by the High Court of Justice of Catalonia (TSJC) to a year and a half of disqualification (inhabilitación) from holding any elected office and/or from exercising government powers, in addition to a fine of €30,000 for disobeying the Central Electoral Board (JEC) by not withdrawing partisan symbols in the Palau de la Generalitat and not guaranteeing the institution's neutrality during the April election campaign.[https://elpais.com/ccaa/2019/12/19/catalunya/1576750819_163784.html Quim Torra, condenado a un año y medio de inhabilitación por negarse a retirar los lazos amarillos] {{in lang|es}}[https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20191219/472355923613/quim-torra-inhabilitacion-desobediencia-tsjc-pancarta.html El TSJC condena a Quim Torra a un año y medio de inhabilitación por no retirar la pancarta de Palau] {{in lang|es}}[https://www.elperiodico.cat/ca/politica/20191219/el-tsjc-inhabilita-torra-per-no-haver-retirat-els-llacos-grocs-del-palau-7780126 El TSJC condemna Torra a un any i mig d'inhabilitació i a una multa de 30.000 €] {{in lang|ca}} Torra then vowed to appeal the sentence (not firm) to a higher instance, the Supreme Court (TS).

On 3 January 2020 the JEC determined the execution of the TSJC sentence in regards of Torra's electability as member of the Parliament of Catalonia, ruling Torra's disqualification from his parliamentary seat.[https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20200103/472680850915/quim-torra-inhabilitado-jec-junta-electoral-central-junqueras-reacciones-ultima-hora-en-directo.html La Vanguardia. Quim Torra inhabilitado por la JEC. La Vanguardia, 04/01/2020 08:07. Consultado el 5 de enero de 2020]{{Cite journal|url=https://elpais.com/politica/2020/01/03/actualidad/1578047198_459983.html|first=Fernando J.|last= Pérez|title=La Junta Electoral destituye a Quim Torra tras su condena por desobediencia|date=3 January 2020|journal=El País}} The JEC left open to interpretation if losing the seat would also entail the disqualification from the post of president of the regional government.{{Cite journal|url=https://www.elmundo.es/espana/2020/01/07/5e14dd0afdddff71628b464b.html|title=La Junta Electoral deja en manos del Parlament que Quim Torra continúe como 'president'|date=7 January 2020|journal=El Mundo}} Torra appealed again to the TS to clarify the JEC ruling, on whether the electoral authority actually had the authority to strip him of the parliamentary seat.{{Cite web|url=http://www.catalannews.com/politics/item/supreme-court-confirms-suspension-of-president-torra-as-mp,%20https://www.catalannews.com/politics/item/supreme-court-confirms-suspension-of-president-torra-as-mp|title=Supreme Court confirms suspension of President Torra as MP |last=Jordan |first=Guifré |website=catalannews.com|access-date=2020-01-27}} The second appeal before the TS by Torra was turned down.{{Cite journal|url=https://www.eldiario.es/catalunya/politica/Supremo-Torra-Junta-Electoral-Central_0_982702406.html|journal=eldiario.es|title=El Supremo mantiene la decisión de la Junta Electoral Central de inhabilitar a Torra como diputado|date=10 January 2020|first1=Oriol|last1=Solé Altimira|first2=Elena|last2=Herrera |language=es}}

Enforcing the ruling of the JEC, the Secretary of the Parliament of Catalonia stripped Torra of his status as legislator on 27 January 2020. Torra compelled then the House's Speaker, ERC's Roger Torrent (who had announced he would not take the vote of Torra into consideration) to contempt unless he wanted to "put the institutions at risk", to no success.{{Cite journal|url=https://www.elmundo.es/cataluna/2020/01/27/5e2ea7fc21efa033518b457e.html|journal=El Mundo|date=27 January 2020|title=Torrent retira el escaño a Torra y la legislatura queda vista para sentencia|first=Víctor|last=Mondelo}}{{Cite journal|url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/politica/20200127/secretario-parlament-ordena-retirar-acta-torra-7823642|journal=El Periódico|first1=Julia|last1=Regué|first2=Roger|last2=Pascual|title=El veto a Torra en el Parlament fractura el Govern|date=27 January 2020}} The Parliament of Catalonia had interpreted the Statute of Catalonia in the sense that the President of the Generalitat could remain in the post, as the status of legislator would be necessary only at the moment of the investiture, so, for the time being and pending the resolution of his appeal before the TS, Torra remains as president of the Catalan Government. Symptoms of collapse of the JuntsxCat–ERC coalition government ensued after Torra's "unseating", with the absence in the votings of the full JuntsxCat bloc vis-à-vis the passing of the Parliament's budget and a defiant Torra, who refrained then from calling a new election, nonetheless.{{Cite journal|url=https://elpais.com/politica/2020/01/27/actualidad/1580153455_603063.html|date=27 January 2020|title=Torra empuja la legislatura catalana a un final acelerado tras perder el escaño|first1=Pere|journal=El País|last1=Ríos|first2=Camilo S.|last2=Baqueros}} A day after Torra argued that "the (legislative) term had no political future if unity cannot be maintained" and announced his intention to call a new election, but not until the regional budget was passed.{{Cite web|url=https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2020/01/29/inenglish/1580292062_280050.html|title=Catalan premier announces snap election amid dispute over role as deputy|last=Baquero|first=Camilo S.|date=2020-01-29|work=El País|access-date=2020-01-29}}

Torra was married to teacher Carola Miró, who died on 4 May 2024 at the age of 58 from cancer.[https://www.elperiodico.com/es/politica/20240505/muere-carola-miro-esposa-expresidente-quim-torra-101947549 Muere Carola Miró, la esposa del expresidente de la Generalitat Quim Torra] {{in lang|es}} They have three children, two girls and a boy.

On 16 March 2020, he announced in a public appearance he was positive for COVID-19 during COVID-19 pandemic in Spain.{{cite news|date=16 March 2020|url=https://nationalpost.com/pmn/health-pmn/regional-leader-of-spains-catalonia-says-he-has-coronavirus|title=Regional leader of Spain's Catalonia says he has coronavirus|work=National Post|access-date=16 March 2020}}

• Ganivetades Suïsses (2007, Símbol Editors; {{ISBN|8495987546|9788495987549}})
• Periodisme? Permetin! La vida i els Articles d'Eugeni Xammar (2008, Símbol Editors; {{ISBN|8495987635|9788495987631}}), biography of Eugeni Xammar
• El Bibliobús de la Llibertat (Miquel Joseph i Mayol, 2008, Símbol Editors; {{ISBN|8495987619|9788495987617}}) (ed. with Jaume Ciurana)
• Viatge Involuntari a la Catalunya Impossible (2010, Proa Edicions; {{ISBN|8482569171|9788482569178}})
• Honorables. Cartes a la Pàtria Perduda (2011, A Contravent; {{ISBN|8493889717|9788493889715}})
• Un Bohemi al Cabaret del Món. Vida de Manuel Fontdevila, un Senyor de Granollers (2013, A Contravent; {{ISBN|9788415720119}})
• Els Últims 100 Metres : el Full de Ruta per Guanyar la República Catalana (2016, Angle Editorial; {{ISBN|8416139997|9788416139996}})
• Muriel Casals i la Revolució dels Somriures (2016, Editorial Pòrtic; {{ISBN|8498093775|9788498093773}})

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• {{URL|1=https://www.parlament.cat/web/composicio/diputats-fitxa/index.html?p_codi=1980|2=Catalan Parliament profile}}
• {{Twitter|id=QuimTorraiPla|name=QuimTorraPla}}

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