Meritxell Borràs
Meritxell Borràs i Solé (born 12 April 1964) is a Catalan politician and pharmacist from Catalonia. Borràs served as Catalonia's Minister of Governance and Institutional Relations from June 2015 to October 2017 when she was removed from office following the Catalan declaration of independence.
Meritxell Borràs | |
|---|---|
| Counselor of Governance and Institutional Relations | |
| In office 22 June 2015 – 27 October 2017 | |
| President | Artur Mas Carles Puigdemont |
| Preceded by | Joana Ortega |
| Succeeded by | Jordi Puigneró (Direct rule until 2 June 2018) |
| Member of the Catalan Parliament for the Province of Barcelona | |
| In office 5 December 1995 – 24 August 1999 | |
| In office 1 February 2000 – 23 September 2003 | |
| In office 4 May 2005 – 4 August 2015 | |
| Member of the City Council of L'Hospitalet de Llobregat | |
| In office 1995–2015 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Meritxell Borràs i Solé 12 April 1964 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Catalonia, Spain |
| Political party | Junts (2020–present) |
| Other political affiliations | Nationalist Youth of Catalonia (formerly) CDC (1981–2016) PDeCAT (2016–2020) |
| Spouse |
Antoni Asensio Ollé (m. 2018) |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | University of Barcelona |
| Website | Meritxell Borràs |
| |
Born in 1964 in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Borràs graduated from the University of Barcelona before working in the pharmaceutical sector. A supporter of Catalan independence, Borràs was a member of the Nationalist Youth of Catalonia whilst a student. She was elected to the Municipality of L'Hospitalet de Llobregat and Parliament of Catalonia in 1995. She was appointed Minister of the Governance and Institutional Relations for Catalonia in June 2015.
On 1 October 2017 an independence referendum was held in Catalonia despite the Constitutional Court ruling that it breached the Spanish constitution. 92% supported independence though turnout was 43% due to a boycott by unionists. The Catalan Parliament declared independence on 27 October 2017 which resulted in the Spanish government imposing direct rule on Catalonia, dismissing the Catalan government. The Catalan Parliament was dissolved and fresh elections called. On 30 October 2017 charges of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds were brought against Borràs and other members of the Catalan government. Borràs and Puigdemont, along with others, fled to Belgium but Borràs later returned to Spain. On 2 November 2017 Borràs and seven other Catalan ministers were remanded in custody by the Audiencia Nacional. Six of the ministers, including Borràs, were released on bail on 4 December 2017. On 23 March 2018 a Supreme Court judge ordered that Borràs be tried for embezzlement and disobedience.