Ernest Benach

In this Catalan name, the first or paternal surname is Benach and the second or maternal family name is Pasqual; both are generally joined by the conjunction "i".

Ernest Benach i Pasqual (Catalan pronunciation: [əɾˈnest bəˈnak]; born Reus, Baix Camp, 12 November 1959) was the President of the Catalan Parliament from 2003 to 2010.^[1][2][3] He is a member of the Catalan independentist party Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC).

Ernest Benach i Pasqual
Benach in 2009
12th President of Catalan Parliament
In office 17 December 2003 – 16 December 2010
Preceded by	Joan Rigol
Succeeded by	Núria de Gispert
Personal details
Born	(1959-11-12) 12 November 1959 (age 65) Reus (Baix Camp)
Political party	ERC
Spouse	Àngels
Children	Pol Benach (boy) Ona Benach (girl) Mar Benach (girl)
Residence	Reus

Education and professional background

Benach worked for the Catalan Generalitat as a sweeper after he left university. He has also co-written República catalana (Catalan Republic) and Educar en política (Teaching in politics).^[4]

Civic background

Head of the La Mulassa, a Boy Scout association of Reus (1981–1986) and president (1991–1994) and cap de colla (head of group) of the Colla castellera Xiquets de Reus (an association of castellers), he is also a member of the Pedagogy section of the Reading Center of Reus.

Political background

He was member of Left Nationalists (NE) from 1979 to 1986. In 1987 he joined the ERC, where he served as general vice-secretary of institutional politics.^[4]

Institutional background

He has been a deputy in the Catalan Parliament since 1992, where he served as second secretary of the board (1999–2003) and president. He was also president of the Conference of European Regional Legislative Assemblies from October 2004 to October 2005.^[1]

He was also a member of the city council of Reus, the city where he was born, from 1987 to 2001, where he held several positions.^[4]