María José Catalá
Encyclopedia
María José Catalá Verdet (Valencia, Spain
, 3 March 1981) is a Spanish politician who belongs to the main opposition People's Party
(PP).
Married, Catalá holds a degree in law, a master's degree in Business Administration and is currently studying for a doctorate in constitutional law. She entered politics in 2003 when she was elected as a PP councillor for the town of Torrent
to the south-west of Valencia city. In 2007 she was chosen as the PP candidate for mayor of Torrent and was elected Mayor in May 2007. Consequently, she became the first female mayor of Torrent and first PP mayor, ending 28 years of Spanish Socialist Workers' Party
(PSOE) control, as well as being one of the youngest mayors at the time, aged 26.
The following year she was elected to the Spanish Congress of Deputies representing Valencia region
after being awarded the fourth place on the PP list, virtually guaranteeing her election as the party had won at least five seats in every election from 1982 onwards. However she only served a half year in Congress, resigning in October 2008 and was replaced by Teresa García Sena
.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, 3 March 1981) is a Spanish politician who belongs to the main opposition People's Party
People's Party (Spain)
The People's Party is a conservative political party in Spain.The People's Party was a re-foundation in 1989 of the People's Alliance , a party led and founded by Manuel Fraga Iribarne, a former Minister of Tourism during Francisco Franco's dictatorship...
(PP).
Married, Catalá holds a degree in law, a master's degree in Business Administration and is currently studying for a doctorate in constitutional law. She entered politics in 2003 when she was elected as a PP councillor for the town of Torrent
Torrent, Valencia
Torrent is a city located within the metropolitan area of the city of Valencia, Spain. It is the largest municipality of the Horta Sud comarca, with 79,843 inhabitants . It is situated some 7 km from Valencia city proper, to which it is connected via the...
to the south-west of Valencia city. In 2007 she was chosen as the PP candidate for mayor of Torrent and was elected Mayor in May 2007. Consequently, she became the first female mayor of Torrent and first PP mayor, ending 28 years of Spanish Socialist Workers' Party
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party
The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party is a social-democratic political party in Spain. Its political position is Centre-left. The PSOE is the former ruling party of Spain, until beaten in the elections of November 2011 and the second oldest, exceeded only by the Partido Carlista, founded in...
(PSOE) control, as well as being one of the youngest mayors at the time, aged 26.
The following year she was elected to the Spanish Congress of Deputies representing Valencia region
Valencia (Spanish Congress Electoral District)
Valencia is one of the 52 electoral districts used for the Spanish Congress of Deputies—the lower chamber of the Spanish Parliament, the Cortes Generales. It is the third largest district in Congress in terms of the numbers of deputies elected, as it elects sixteen deputies out of the total...
after being awarded the fourth place on the PP list, virtually guaranteeing her election as the party had won at least five seats in every election from 1982 onwards. However she only served a half year in Congress, resigning in October 2008 and was replaced by Teresa García Sena
Teresa García Sena
Teresa García Sena is a Spanish politician who belongs to the main opposition People's Party .Single, García holds a degree in law and served as legal advisor to the cabinet of the Valencian Regional Administration...
.