Artur Mas, the newly elected Catalan president has a new plan up his sleeve. He will cut 23% of the high-ranking positions and reduce the number of political advisers. Public organisations and quangos will also be affected by this austerity measure. The government is forecasting a deficit of 7.800 million euros.
Although the unemployment figure dropped 1.868 people in December, the year still ended with 912 more unemployed people than in 2009. The figure of jobless people in Catalonia on 31st December 2010 is 562,673. The annual assessment shows a slight increase of 0.16% in the figure in comparison to the end of 2009.
The FC Barcelona manager, Pep Guardiola, will take on his 150th game at San Mamés stadium in the Copa del Rey. The Catalan manager will become one of the six managers to have been on the bench the most times at the club.
As the year comes to an end, CNA takes a look back at the last 12 months and brings you the top ten most magical moments from all the Clubs’ activities.From the vast presence of Barças’ boys on the winning World Cup team to the historical 5-0 thrasing of Madrid, 2010 was a thrilling year for Barça fans.
Barça started 2011 with a harder win than expected against Levante. Pedro’s second half brace took some of the limelight away from Xavi, who equalled Migueli’s record for appearances.
Barcelona (ACN).- The main parade will distribute over 40 tonnes of sweets that are suitable for celiacs. It is not Santa who comes to Catalonia bearing gifts, but the Three Wise Men. That is why the 6th January, known as the Day of the Three Magic Kings is celebrated like Christmas in Catalonia
Smoking is banned in all restaurants and clubs in Spain from the 2nd January 2011. The new law aims to put the state on the same level as other European countries such as the UK
Up to 1.000 French have applied for dual citizenship in a move to 'honour' their relatives, who suffered the consequences of the war and were sent into exile
How do Catalans abroad celebrate Christmas? The CNA has met four Catalan and foreign families to discover how they spend Christmas
Barça will start 2011 without Messi, Puyol or Piqué against Levante, three of the most regular members of the first team.
Francesc Homs is Artur Mas’ right-hand man in the CiU leadership and the director of the last elections’ programme. Homs is the CiU’s policy developer and now he will coordinate the new Catalan Government. Homs will continue being Mas’ closest collaborator. He will assist him in defining the Government’s main policies and he will push for action. In addition, he will directly control sensitive areas and will be the Government’s spokesperson.
The new Secretary of the Government was the party’s CFO and one of Artur Mas’ most trusted collaborators. As his duties were internal, Gordó was not a well-known figure. However, his role in the party was essential, as it will in the new Government. Gordó will remain somewhat in the shadows, as his new responsibility is to ensure the Government’s functionality. He will be in charge of preparing Government meetings and ensuring that decisions are implemented. He will also directly manage some concrete services, such as the Government’s offices across Catalonia and abroad.
The new Catalan Minister for Health comes from the private sector and he is an independent. As the Chair of the Catalan Union of Hospitals, the health business-owners association, he proposed to pay for some service in public hospitals. His main challenge will be to reduce the public expenditure on healthcare.
The new Catalan Minister for Social Welfare and Family was the CiU’s representative in the Catalan Parliament for this portfolio for the seven years in which the CiU was in the opposition. He comes from the scout and volunteering world, in which he has been very active over the last 40 years. He also worked with the Catalan Government in secondary positions in Jordi Pujol’s times.
The new Catalan Minister for Education was the CiU’s manager of this portfolio for seven years, while the party was not in power. She has experience, both as a primary school and university teacher. Over the last 30 years, she has held several positions in politics, mainly working on education issues, with the exception of the period in which she was the Catalan Minister for Social Welfare and Family (1999-2003).