Irene Rigau

Irene Rigau i Oliver is a Catalan politician born in Banyoles (Pla de l'Estany County) in 1951.[1]

Early life and education

A teacher by profession,[1] Rigau holds a psychology degree from the Autonomous University of Barcelona and a diploma in public sector management from ESADE Business School.[1]

In the education sector, Rigau has been a primary school teacher and a schools inspector. She also got licensed as secondary school teacher. Rigau has lectured on psycho-pedagogy at The University of Girona Education Department and on educational policy and schools legislation at the Open University of Catalonia (UOC). From 1982 to 1999 she held a number of management posts in the Catalan administration.

Political career

Her political career includes four years as minister for welfare and family issues (1999-2003). In December 2012 she was appointed education minister.[2] From 2003 to 2006 she was a member of Parliament for Girona Province, and from 2006 for Barcelona Province. Rigau currently heads the National Council of the CDC, senior partner in ruling coalition CiU.

Rigau appeared in court in Barcelona on 13 October 2015, to face criminal charges of having assisted in the organisation of the Catalan self-determination referendum, 2014, which the Spanish courts deem illegal. Fellow ministers Artur Mas and Joana Ortega also face charges.[3] Large public protests took place in Barcelona the same day in support of the accused.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Irene Rigau Oliver, 'consellera' de Ensenyament, El Periódico de Catalunya, 12 February 2013
  2. ↑ El Ejecutivo, con solo tres mujeres, lejos de la paridad, El País, 28 December 2010
  3. ↑ "La plaça de Sant Jaume, plena de gom a gom en suport als encausats pel 9-N" (in Catalan). VilaWeb. 2015-10-13. Retrieved 2015-10-13.
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