Oriol Junqueras

Oriol Junqueras is a Catalan politician and historian who is a leading advocate for Catalonia’s independence from Spain. He co-founded the party ERC (Republican Left of Catalonia) and has served as its leader. Junqueras was a key figure in the 2017 Catalan independence referendum, which the Spanish government declared illegal. Following the referendum, he was convicted of sedition and other charges, leading to imprisonment. His work centers on promoting Catalan self-governance, language, and culture, making him a prominent and sometimes controversial figure in Spain’s regional and national political landscape.