Carles Puigdemont, Head of Separatist Catalan Parliament

Background History: Born on December 29, 1962, you were a Catalonian at both birth and heart. The province of Amer is your home, a small municipality located in the province of Girona, which is in the northeastern section of the Autonomous Community of Catalonia. Although you never completed college, you became a powerful figure in Spanish politics. After starting off as a journalist, you developed ties with officials in El Punt as a post editor­in­chief, Agència ​ ​ Catalana de Notícies as a former director, as well as Catalonia Today, where you also served as ​ ​ a directed. Having spent all of your life in Girona, you have accomplished a tremendous amount of scholarly work and political actions linked with the subtle transformations of Catalonia. You have helped found the Nationalist Youth of Catalonia in Girona. Even more prestigiously, you held membership in the Parliament of Catalonia. Although you were unsuccessful in the 2007 Girona elections, you succeeded in 2011 and became mayor. You represented the Convergence and Union Party, which made you the first major of Girona unassociated with the Socialists’ Party of Catalonia. In 2015, you became Chair of the Association of Municipalities for Independence, winning even more political leverage. Finally, On January 11, 2016, you became the President of Catalonia.

Portfolio Powers: Overt ● Lead the executive branch of the Generalitat de Catalunya, the Catalan government ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ● Select and dismiss consellers, call for meetings of the executive, and act as its chairperson ● Sign decrees and coordinate legislative agenda ● Represent the Catalan government both domestically and abroad

Catarina Chávez, Real Estate Tycoon of Spain

Background History: Born on July 21 1962, you were raised in an affluent neighborhood of Madrid. Your parents were active figures in the world of business and managed to amass wealth in the real estate sector. Over a span of 30 years, they founded and led Inmobiliaria Colonial ­ one of the largest real estate companies in Spain that has now expanded to 23 countries across the world. Following in the footsteps of your father, you attended the highly prestigious British School in Madrid and later, the IESE Business School at the University of Navarra. While studying at IESE, you enrolled in a study abroad program at the school’s New York campus. There, you befriended a young son of a real estate mogul by the name of Donald Trump, with whom you retain a close friendship till today.

After graduating from IESE with an honors diploma in real estate finance, you began working at Inmobiliaria Colonial in a variety of management positions. Your projects focused on class­A properties in Madrid and Barcelona, as well as investment in real estate projects in Andalusia. You inherited a 51% stake in Inmobiliaria Colonial after the passing away of your parents in a tragic car accident in 1997 and began serving on the company’s board of directors.

Portfolio Powers: Overt ● In your current position, you oversee Societe Fonciere Lyonnaise ­ a French real estate investment trust that your company has a 53% stake in ● As the single largest shareholder in Inmobiliaria Colonial ­ a company with market capitalization of $1.9 billion, you hold a major sway over the company’s direction and investments

Carlos Zúñinga, Co­owner of Circuitos Taurinos

Born and raised in the city of Gijon, you have a deep passion for the centuries­long Spanish ​ tradition of bullfighting. At an age of 13, you successfully participated in your first bullfight and have been an active participant ever since. Under the influence of your mother, who worked as a university professor for over three decades, you attended University of Oviedo and graduated with a dual degree in Nuclear Engineering and Agricultural Sciences and multiple awards for excellence in engineering. During your undergraduate years, you continued your engagement in bullfighting and established Circuitos Taurinos ­ a marketing company organizing bullfighting festivals. Over the course of a decade, the company grew to become one of the most successful ones in the bullfighting industry, spreading across Spain and organizing festivals attended by hundreds of thousands of locals and foreign tourists. Recently, however, the bullfighting economy has come under intense pressure from animal rights activists and groups. You have lobbied alongside other bullfighting businessmen to diminish PETA efforts and those of PACMA, Spain’s leftist animal rights party. Camila Gonzalez of PACMA even went on to state in The Olive Press, Andalusia’s Spanish­English newspaper, that you are a national threat to Spain’s modern culture. Although you maintain an independent political stance in the traditional left­right spectrum, you support any authority that claims that ending bullfighting will “damage Spain’s economy further and threaten its traditional culture.”

Portfolio Powers: Overt ● As the company’s founder and president, you are currently in control of a $125 million business that continuously generates a steady stream of cash flow and tourists

Francisco Javier Solana de Madariaga, Representative to the EU’s High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

Background History: You were born on July 14, 1942 in Madrid, Spain. You come from a well­known Spanish family with several high­figure connections. Your great­uncle, Salvador de Madariaga, served as Spanish League of Nations Disarmament Chief and as a diplomat. Your father, Luis Solana San Mártin, was a chemistry professor, with notable connections in the scientific community. His academic background is what inspired you to learn physics. Your older brother Luís is a distinguished leader in the Spanish telecommunications industry. However, he is also well­known for his anti­Franco political activities. You are a Spanish physicist and politician. After serving in the Spanish government under Felipe González (1982–1995) and Secretary General of NATO (1995–1999), you were appointed as the European Union's High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, Secretary General of the Council of the European Union and Secretary­General of the Western European Union. You remained in these posts for a decade until December 2009. During these years as a cabinet minister, your reputation as a discreet and diplomatic politician grew. By going to the foreign Ministry in the later years of González administration, you avoided the political scandals of corruption, and of the dirty war allegedly being fought against ETA. As such, you have negotiated numerous Treaties of Association between the European Union and various Middle Eastern and Latin American countries, including Bolivia and Colombia. You played a pivotal role in unifying the remainder of the former Yugoslavian federation. You proposed that Montenegro form a union with Serbia instead of having full independence, stating that this was done to avoid a domino effect from Kosovo and Vojvodina independence demands.

Portfolio Powers: Overt ● Chief coordinator and representative of the Common Foreign and Security Policy within the EU ● Organize and streamline several EU policies regarding security, including the EU’s coordinated fight against terrorism ● Your position is nicknamed “Mr. Europe,” as it is seen as the common foreign policy voice for all of Europe

Inés Ayala Sender, Leader of Socialist Party

Background History: You were born on March 28, 1957 in Zaragoza, Spain, by far the largest municipality with over 70% of the total electorate of the province of Aragon. After studying law in Zaragoza, you pursued a degree in sustainable development in Brussels, graduating in 1997. You are currently a Spanish politician and member of the European Parliament for the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, which is affiliated to the Party of European Socialists. You were first elected to the European Parliament in 2004, and were re­elected in 2009 and in 2014. Your strong knowledge of the environment helped you land the position as a national expert in the Directorate­General for the Environment of the European Commission from 1995 to 1997. You then moved on to work as policy adviser to the Party of European Socialists (PES Group) in the Committee of the Regions­­a political group that brings together social­democrat, socialist, labor and progressive representatives from local and regional authorities across the EU.

Portfolio Powers: Overt ● As a current member of the Committee on Budgetary Control, you are responsible for ​ ​ identifying undesirable developments within EU institutions and other bodies and then to elaborate constructive suggestions for improvement ● Similarly, you serve on the Committee on Transport and Tourism, which allows you ​ much influence over policies regarding European tourism, international transport, and migration

Isabel Garcia­Tejerina, Minister of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental affairs

Background History:

You were born On October 9, 1968 in Valladolid, the administrative capital of Castile and Leon. You graduated from the Technical University of Madrid with an agricultural engineering degree and thereafter built extensive experience in the agri­food industry (including being a director at an Argentinian fertilizer manufacturing plant) and subsequently went on to pursue a career in politics. As an avid member of the People’s Party of Spain, you had served two terms as the General Secretary of Agriculture from (2000­2004 and 2012­2014). At the end of your second term, President Mariano Rajoy appointed you Minister of Agriculture, Food, and Environment of the Government of Spain.

Portfolio Powers: Overt ● Shape and influence all types of food and agriculture policies, particularly related to regulation, promotion, agricultural research, price supports and agricultural subsidies, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ plant diseases and invasive species ​ ​ ● Devise and implement policies against climate change and in favor of sustainable development

Jose Ignacio Wert Ortega, Minister of Education, Culture, and Sport

Background History: You were born on February 18, 1950 and currently serve as the head for three official sectors of the government. You grew up in Madrid and attended Colegio de Pilar before going on to receive a law degree from Complutense University of Madrid ­ an institution that many other Spanish politicians attended. You also received a Master’s in Political Sociology from the Institute of Political Studies. In 1977, you left the Democratic Left Party and joined the Union of Democratic Center. This political body is interconnected with various groups, a condition which earns you leverage in your public sector career. You have held the position of Head of the Studies Service for content and audience research, Assistant Director­General of the Technical Cabinet of CIS for sociology based researched, and even held a Senate­appointed membership as an advisor for the Spanish Radio and Television Corporation. In the early 1980s, you began your work as counselor for the Madrid City Council. Your work in the research, communications, and political spheres helped appoint you as Minister of Education, Culture, and Sport immensely. You have pushed for support for the three­year bachelor’s program, and two­year master’s program ­ called the “3+2 System”. This was not well received in Catalonia, where we saw a 48­hour student strike last year. Since you were appointed minister in December 2011, the 2012 budget cuts to public health and education were one of the major controversies you have had to deal with. In order to meet the deficit target set by the European Union, you recommended an increase in working hours for teachers while still maintaining their salary cuts, resulting in a massive strike led by teacher and student unions. Although the public is not too satisfied with your reforms, 2016 is a new year with potential for new beginnings.

Portfolio Powers: Overt ● You have many friends that hold high positions in politics and business from your time at the Complutense University of Madrid ● You have access to advanced polling resources and data to garner the impact of important events and policy changes on the Spanish people and their support for the government

Luis De Guindos Jurado, Minister of Economy and Competitiveness

Background History: Born January 16, 1960 in Madrid, you pursued economics and received your bachelor’s degree from Colegio Universitario de Estudios Financieros, a well renowned financial­academic institution. After graduation, you pursued multiple positions, starting as a managing partner of Advisors AB and being the secretary of the magazine Business Information Spanish. With the ​ ​ experience and connections you gained there, you quickly became an advisor to the Secretary of State for Economy of Spain and for the Head of Technical Office of the General Secretariat of Commerce. This was truly your first exposure to Spanish politics, and you were able to make lasting government connections thanks to this experience. You continued to stay in the private sector and ascended the ladder­­you gained responsibility of PwC’s finance division and was a board member of Endesa SA, a Spanish power company. Your skill in running one of the Big Four Auditors finance division was something well noted by political leaders in spain. After much success in the private sector, you were called upon by the Prime Minister of Spain, a good friend, Mariano Rajoy, to be Spain’s Minister of Economy. In the position, you have played a critical role in negotiating the EU’s €100 billion bailout of Spain’s savings banks ​ ​ and spearheaded efforts to overhaul the banking sector, labor market and other parts of the economy. With praise from OCED and a particularly influential Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany, you were given a seat on Eurogroup, which controls currency and related aspects of the EU’s monetary union.

Portfolio Powers: Overt ● In charge of the development, proposal and execution of the economical policy of the government, specially of the State Budgets, the control of Public Companies and the levying of taxes ● Manage government financial assets. ● Participate in the negotiation of international free trade and financial agreements ● Influence Eurozone’s monetary policy

Marina Medina, Leader of Union General de los Trabajadores

Background History: Born in Seville to a blue­collar family on July 1, 1960, you spent a large part of your youth engaging in the working class community. Your parents were active members of the General Workers Union (UGT) and ardent supporters of the Socialist Worker’s Party. You soon followed in your parents’ footsteps and joined the Union yourself when you were just 22 years old. You are a vocal, zealous supporter of workers’ rights, especially given Spain’s dark economic times. During your time as leader, you have ensured that the Union work more closely prominent with the Socialist Workers’ Party, since you believe this will help you garner more support for legislative changes. Given your passion and your history in the workers’ movement, some politicians are hesitant about being associated with you as they see you as a radical. Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría and Undersecretary General of People’s Party Maria Dolores de Cospedal are particularly wary of your presence at government meetings.

Portfolio Powers: Overt ● Represent union interests and Promote union objectives, values and goals ● Organize members ● Inform and advocate for legislative and political action programs

Pablo Iglesias, General Secretary of Podemos Party

Background History: Born in Madrid on October 17, 1978, you spent a large part of your youth pursuing your education. You excelled in Law, Political Science and Administration (PhD), Communications (MA) and have received numerous awards and distinctions from nearby universities. Your first entrance into the world outside academia was in hosting a political debate show known as La ​ Tuerka, which currently has amassed almost 30 million views. Your academic prowess and the ​ show’s success launched led to many opportunities for you to appear as a political commentator on other shows. The success of your career has led to your receival of the “Enfocados” prize for your contribution to social change in Spain. You are immensely successful and, of course, have many fans who trust your research and knowledge. From your academic career to today, you have always been an advocate for progressive social change. In the early 2000s, you were a strategic analysis advisor for the Venezuelan and Bolivian government. You acquired a position on the executive board on the Center for Political and Social Studies Foundation, a well connected left­wing think tank headquartered in Spain. Under your leadership, the group has been active in shaping Latin American politics. In late 2014, the Podemos movement was created, and you played an integral role in the formation and success of this new anti­inequality and anti­corruption political party. Your success as an academic, television personality, and leader led to your election as the head of the party. You were then elected as a member of the European Parliament and immediately after, were nominated by the GUE/NGL party as their presidential candidate for the European Parliament. As an Member of the Parliament, you served as a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Subcommittee on Human Rights. In October 2015, you resigned from your position in parliament to campaign for your party, which led to a historic shift in Spanish politics. After winning 69 seats in the election, the Podemos movement shifted the political landscape of Spain from a two­party political system to a multi­party system.

Portfolio Powers: Overt ● Represent the Podemos Party and influence its platform ● Leader of the progressive movement in Spain, which also grants you substantive influence over smaller left­leaning parties

Soraya Sáenz de Santamaria Antón, Deputy Prime Minister ​ ​ Background History: You have served as the Deputy Prime Minister of Spain since 2011. You were born on June 10, 1971 in Valladolid, the de facto capital of the autonomous region of Castile and Leon. You graduated top of your class at the University of Valladolid School of Law and went on to become an associate professor of administrative law at the Carlos III University of Madrid, where you still have many friends. Your career began as a legal advisor to Minister Mariano Rajoy, and you still share a close relationship with him. You specialize in land policy and have served as Executive Secretary of regional and local policy. Your political career has been exclusively with the Spanish People’s Party, which represents the conservative and Christian democratic sentiments of the Spanish people. Throughout your political career, you have served as executive secretary of Territorial Policy of Partido Popular (People’s Party). Prime Minister Rajoy appointed you as the Popular Party spokesperson in the 9th Legislature in the House of Representatives (Congress of Deputies). You also served in the 8th legislature of Spain for four years from 2004 to 2008 as the executive secretary of the People’s Party’s domestic policy, as well as a deputy for Madrid. In 2011, the People’s Party leader, Mariano, appointed you to lead the transfer of power between the outgoing government of PSOE and the newly elected People’s Party government.

Portfolio Powers: Overt ● You are the deputy leader of the governing party (People’s Party) ​ ​ ● You serve as acting prime minister when the real prime minister is temporarily absent or incapable of exercising his power ○ The prime minister is charged with selecting and dismissing other members of the cabinet, and allocating posts to members within the government. He is also the presiding member and chairman of the cabinet

Jose Antonio Alvarez, Ceo of Banco Santander Background History You were born in 1960 in Leon, Spain. You have a Bachelor's Degree in Economics and Business administration from the University of Santiago de Compostela and an MBA from the University of Chicago's Graduate School of Business. You joined Santander in 2002 and was appointed Group Chief Financial Officer in 2004. After a decade as acting CFO, you were appointed as Chief Executive Officer in November 2014 by Ana Botin, who took over the leadership of the bank after her father passed away. Your appointment took effect on January 1, 2015 when you officially took the position of CEO of Banco Santander S.A. Your appointment as CEO was welcomed by the financial community. In a research report, a Citigroup analyst described you as an experienced and well­regarded executive whose leadership should be positive for Santander and its shareholders. Under your leadership, Santander is taking a more transparent strategic approach. Your network of connections is large. In addition to your position, you serve as a board member to numerous Banco Santander subgroups and branches like Banco Santander Brazil, and Santander Consumer Finance. You also served in 2006 as Director of Bolsas y Mercados Españoles S.A.

Portfolio Powers: Overt ● You develop and implement high­level strategies and make all the major corporate decisions ● You manage the overall operations and resources of the bank ● You act as the main point of communication between the board of directors and the corporate operations

Jose Garcia­Margallo, Minister of Foreign Affairs Background History: Born in Madrid in August, 1944, you are a Spanish politician member of the People’s Party. In 1960, you joined the Young Spanish Monarchists. You went on to graduate with degrees in law and economics from the University of Deusto in Bilbao in 1965, and subsequently received a master's degree in Law from Harvard University in 1972. At the 1977 election, you were elected to the Spanish Congress of Deputies as member for the single member district of Melilla and were re­elected in 1979, though you lost your seat at the 1982 election to the PSOE. Once the Union of the Democratic Centre­­coalition of which the People’s Party was a part­­disbanded in 1983, you joined the Democratic Popular Party and returned to the Congress at the 1986 election as member for Valencia Province, retaining your seat until 1994 when you resigned after being elected to the European Parliament. During the time you were a member of the European Parliament, you served as vice­president of the commission on economic and monetary affairs starting in 1999. You were also a substitute for the Committee on International Trade and a vice­chair of the delegation for relations with the countries of Central America. For your public service, you have been honored with the Great Cross of Civil Merit in 1982 and the Order of Constitutional Merit in 1983. You have served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation since 2011.

Portfolio Powers: Overt ● Largely responsible for shaping Spanish foreign policy ● Maintain relations with other states and international organizations ● Organize and supervise the activities of Spain’s diplomatic missions and consulates ● Protect Spanish citizens in foreign areas and to participate in the proposal and implementation of external policy

Ignasi Vilajosana, CEO of Worldsensing Background History You were born in 1975 in Barcelona, and it was there you spent the majority of your childhood. As a twin, you spent a lot of your time in friendly competition with your brother that led to the development of a strong relationship. You and your brother both attended the same primary and secondary schools until your matriculation to the University of Barcelona in 1998, where you completed your Bachelor’s degree in physics. You stayed on to complete your PhD, in which you studied seismic detection and other physical sensors. While at the University of Barcelona, you worked as a Seismic Field Operator specializing in avalanche detection. You went on to teach for five years at the Polytechnic Institute of Catalunya, and during your last years here you concurrently obtained a certificate from the IESE Business School of the University of Navarra. You then shifted your career to consulting in the field of technology. In 2015, you obtained another certificate from the IESE Business School of the University of Navarra as well as a certificate from the Harvard Business School. In 2008 you and your brother started Worldsensing, and since then you have served as the CEO of the company. Worldsensing has worked to innovate and produce in the field of industrial infrastructure. The company has specialized in producing sensors that can connect wirelessly to acquire mass amounts of data on anything from traffic management to urban infrastructure. You consistently have drawn from your experiences in seismic technology to innovate for your company.

Portfolio Powers Overt: ● Lead, in conjunction with the Board, the development of Worldsensing strategy ● Communicate with shareholders, employees, Government authorities, other stakeholders and the public

Bernardo Velázquez Herreros, CEO of Acerinox Background History: You were born and raised in Madrid. You first joined with Acerinox in 1990 as a member of the Marketing Department, and through this role you traveled around the world to manage steel production. You spent a significant time in both Mexico and Australia, and on your return to Spain in 2005 you took on the position of Assistant Managing Director. This led to you occupying the roles of Strategy Manager and Systems Manager until you were made Managing Director in 2007. In 2010, you were elected as the CEO of the company, and you were re­elected to this role in 2014. In addition to your role in Acerinox, you were chosen to serve as the Vice President of the National Union of Metallurgic Companies (UNESID) and on the board of World Steel, the international association of steel producers. Acerinox has been one of the biggest producers of steel for the past few decades, and in 2008 was named the largest steel producer in the world. The company was formed in 1970 as a conglomerate of different production facilities in the area, and initially received support from the Japanese company Nisshin Steel, whose involvement has since been reduced to a share in 15% of the company.

Portfolio Powers: Overt ● Determine and influence the development of Acerinox strategy ​ ​ ● Represent Acerinox in all meetings with shareholders, government officials and the ​ public

Antonio Garcia Pascual, Chief European Economist at Barclays Background History: You were born in Madrid, and went on to complete your Bachelor’s degree in economics at the Universidad Complutense. In 1994, you traveled to California to obtain your PhD in international finance and economics from the University of California. You then took a job at the University of Munich, where you taught both graduate and undergraduate students as you did research into the European market. In 2002, you left your professorship and signed on as a Senior Economist at the International Monetary Fund, in the Monetary and Capital Funds Department. You proved yourself as an expert crisis manager when you took on the role of Senior Advisor to the Russian Central Bank. Eventually, in 2010, you signed on with Barclays Capital. You began as a Managing Director specializing in Southern Europe, which included Spain, Italy, Greece, Portugal, and Ireland. This role expanded to the entirety of Europe in 2013, and then in 2014 you took on the role of Chief European Economist, a role in which you spearheaded macroeconomic research into the entire European market. Since you have been working with Barclays, a lot of your time has been dedicated to research on Southern European nations.

Portfolio Powers: Overt ● Direct macroeconomic research at Barclays ● Advising senior risk takers and risk managers with a focus on macro research and strategy ● Representing the department at several internal senior committees, international fora and media

Antonio Caño, Editor in Chief of El Pais Background History: You were born in 1957 in Martos, a city located in the south­central Spanish province of Jaen. You completed your primary schooling there and eventually went to Madrid, where you obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the Universidad Complutense. You took up permanent residence there, and went on to marry and have three children. In 1980, you took on an editor position for the official news agency, the Efe. After two years there, you moved to an editor position for the newspaper El País. You assumed several ​ ​ roles within the organization. You served as a correspondent for the newspaper in Mexico and Central America, and in Washington, D.C. The latter role allowed you to launch the American edition of El País, and this eventually led to the development of a Latin American edition in ​ ​ 2013 based in Brazil. In addition to these correspondent roles, you served as chief editor of international and the Sunday editions of the paper. In 2014, you were appointed Editor in Chief. There was some opposition to this decision, especially given rumors of unfair labor practices in the company, but ultimately you were deemed most qualified.

Portfolio Powers: Overt ● Review all articles and photographs for content, accuracy as well as potential libel or slander, and provides suggestions, if needed ● Hire and manage all newspaper staff ● Represent the publication in meetings, social functions, etc. ● Meet regularly with the publication board to discuss issues, plans and other businesses related to the newspaper

Pedro Morenes­Eulate, Minister of Defense Background History: You were born in 1948 in Las Arenas, a city in the Spanish province of Vizcaya. Coming from an affluent family, you were able to complete a degree in Law from the University of Navarra, in Business Administration from the University of Deusto, and in Ship Management and Economics from the Bremen Institute of Shipping Economics. You went on to marry and have three children. You worked as a lawyer for several law firms from 1979 to 1991, when you became the head of Legal for the Shipbuilding branch of the National Industry Institute. While you served in this role you also taught maritime studies as an associate professor at the Spanish Maritime Institute of Madrid. In 1994 you were promoted to managing director of your division within the National Industry Institute, and you served in that role for two years. In 1996, you were appointed secretary of State for Defense in the Ministry of Defense; then, in 2000, you were appointed secretary of State for Security in the Ministry of Interior. You then moved to the Ministry of Science and Technology in 2002, and in 2005 became the Secretary General of the Business Association. The latter role ended in 2010 when you accepted the job of Chairman of MBDA Spain, a missile systems firm. In 2011, you were appointed Minister of Defense.

Portfolio Powers: Overt ● Oversee the country’s policies of defense and the potential conduction of war ● Establish and maintain military alliances ● Administer the expenses and budget of the military

Pello Urizar, Head of Basque National Separatist Party Background History: You were born in 1968 in Mondragon. You began your degree in engineering, with a focus in electrical engineering and computer science, but never finished and instead began to work with politics and grassroots activism. From 1996 to 1998, you held the position of Secretary General for Gazte Abertzaleak, a youth group of the pro­independence Basque party Eusko Alkartasuna. This youth group, founded in 1988, aimed to use anti­militaristic methods to create, ideally, an independent Basque state within the European Union. You were also involved in the larger political party at this time, allowing you to perform various regional and local functions in support of a pro­Basque movement. You retained your membership as a Regional Executive in Guipuzcoa until 2007, and in 2009 you assumed the role of Secretary General of the Eusko Alkartasuna party. In 2012, a call for elections to the Basque Parliament was made, and you were selected as the number two position. You have been serving on the Parliament ever since. The Basque Parliament has developed to such an extent that it officially oversees the budget of the autonomous region and the actions of the Basque government.

Portfolio Powers: Overt ● Speak for and represent the Basque National Separatist Party at all events ● Most likely party nominee to run for office ● Largely shape the party’s platform

Andres Rodriguez, Leader of the Union of Students of the Catalan Countries

Background History: Born in Barcelona in 1981, you are a staunch Catalan separatist known for your radical views against the central government in Madrid. You attended the highly prestigious University of Barcelona for the entirety of your education career, graduating summa cum laude with a PhD in political science in 2012. Your dissertation, entitled “Collective Strive for Independence: How Student Movements Can Lead the Fight against Oppression,” analyzed the success of so­called “color revolutions” and advocated for emergence of a similar movement in Catalonia. While a freshman in University of Barcelona, you joined the Union of Students of the Catalan Countries ­ a regional separatist student movement advocating Catalan independence. You quickly rose through the ranks of the union, being elected as its Leader in 2015. An outspoken critic of the Spanish government, you are dubbed as “Radical Andres” in the media for your staunch opposition to any form of compromise or agreement with the Spanish authorities. Nonetheless, unlike the far­left agenda of the CUP, you prefer to distance yourself from them politically and have positioned the Union’s agenda as centrist in terms of internal Catalan governance.

Portfolio Powers: Overt ● You lead the Union of Students of the Catalan Countries that has a registered following of over 8,000 students across various provinces within Catalonia ● You are a staunch separatist advocating for full independence for Spain working together

Maria Dolores de Cospedal, Secretary General of People’s Party

Background History: You were born in El Bonillo, a province in Albacete, to a lower middle­class family that ​ ​ put your education first over their own finances, allowing you to gain acceptance and attend San Pablo University, where you graduated with degree in law in 1991. At 17, you joined the youth wing of the Democratic Reform Party, In 1992, you began your career working for the Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Environment as a undersecretary of public administration. You then served as chief of state attorney in the Ministry of Social Affairs from 1994 to 1996. You subsequently worked as an adviser in the cabinet of Minister of Labor and Social Affairs. Before joining the People’s Party, you briefly worked as a counselor on labor and social affairs at the Spanish Embassy in the United States. You were chosen as the People's Party candidate in the 2011 regional elections, as president of the autonomous community of Castile­La Mancha. You obtained a majority with 48.13% of the votes which meant that for the first time in the history of democratic Spain your party would govern the Junta of Communities of Castile­La Mancha (JCCM). You also won in the 2015 regional elections. In addition to serving in the Government of Castile­La Mancha, you have been secretary general of the PP since 2008. You are the first women to occupy the position. You are married to business executive Ignacio López del Hierro and have one daughter.

Portfolio Powers: Overt ● You are responsible for the organizational and daily political work of the PP ● You are second in rank to the party leader (current Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy) ● Attend all executive party meetings to shape party policy and handle all official communications of the party ● File the declaration of assets and expenditure of the PP

Ada Colau, Mayor of Barcelona

Background History: You were born in March of 1974 in Barcelona, where you have lived your whole life. You went on to study philosophy at the University of Barcelona. Despite of outstanding academic performance, you had to leave the university because of your family did not have the means to finish paying for your education. After working a series of odd jobs to help your family, you reconnected with the activist world in the early 2000s, taking part in protests against the World Bank in 2011, the Europe of big business in 2002, and the Iraq War in 2003. These experiences shaped many of your political and social opinions, particularly related to exclusion, housing intimidation, gentrification. You joined the V for Vivienda movement and then went on to found the Platform for People Affected by Mortgages (PAH). You worked as PAH’s spokeswoman for five years, during which you learned much about local neighbourhood movements. In 2007, you began working at the DESC Observatory, first on development cooperation, and then on the right to housing and the city. In the spring of 2014, you embarked on the project now known as Barcelona En Comú, a citizen platform that aims “take back the city for its ​ ​ people.” Shortly after, you successfully ran for the position of mayor of Barcelona. You have been mayor since June 2015 and are the first woman to hold the office. You are married and have one son.

Portfolio Powers: Overt ● You are the highest­ranking official in Barcelona’s municipal government ● Speak for and represent the government and the city as a whole ● Ensure city council and other city officials fulfill their duties and lawfully exercise their powers ● Prepare, manage and approve the annual budget

Juan Rosell, CEO of the Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations

Background History: You are a Spanish businessman and current president of CEOE, a position you have held since December 2010. Born in Barcelona in 1957, you had a strict upbringing. You attended a Jesuit school until moving on to study political science at Complutense University. You soon became disenchanted with the field and quit the program without graduating, opting to pursue a degree in industrial engineering at the Polytechnic University of Cataluña. In 1980, you cofounded the political party Solidaritat Catalan and unsuccessfully ran as its candidate for the 1980 regional elections. The election results pushed you to take a step back from politics and take on roles in the business world. You served as president of a variety of companies, including toy maker Congost, and two major utility companies in the region: Electric Forces of Cataluña and the National Hydroelectric Company of Ribagorzana (ENHER). Throughout your career, you also provided consultant work to Siemens, Endesa, Port Aventura, and other Spanish companies. Finally in 2010, you were elected president of the CEOE, or Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations, a trade union organization founded in June 1977 that represents Spanish businessmen. The CEOE integrates public and private companies in all sectors, and focuses its work on helping entrepreneurs. It essentially serves as an opposing force to the work of trade unions. Since taking on the position, one of your most important tasks was to negotiate the first labor market reform of PM Mariano Rajoy’s administration in 2012. The results of the negotiation, unfortunately, were more favorable to worker unions. You are married with three children.

Portfolio Powers: Overt ● You are charged with convening the CEOE General Assembly, the Board and the Executive Committee, as well as chairing and directing their discussions ● You can propose to the Board the establishment of specialized committees ● You monitor compliance with the bylaws and the constitution ● You can call early elections to the GA, Board or Executive Committee

Antonio Fornieles Melero, Executive Chairman of Abengoa

Background History: You were born in Almería in 1959. You graduated Universidad Complutense de Madrid with degrees in economics and business studies, and later completed a senior management diploma in business management at the Instituto Internacional San Telmo business school. You have been the Executive President of Abengoa since March 2016. You first joined Abengoa in January 2015 as Independent Advisor Coordinator and Second Vice President, after having worked almost your entire career in the audit sector. From 1986 to 2014, you worked at KPMG­­a global network of professional firms providing audit and tax services. You were made partner in 1994 and were subsequently appointed to the board of the firm, responsible for the audit function of KPMG España and COO of the audit function globally. You have been a lecturer in the faculty of economics and business studies at the University of Cádiz, and a regular speaker and lecturer in various universities and corporations about issues related to financial reporting, business management and corporate governance and ethics.

Portfolio Powers: Overt ● You are charged with leadership of the board and ensuring the board’s effectiveness in all aspects of its role ● Lead Abengoa in its relationships with shareholders, financial institutions and the public ● Network among current and prospective major customers ● Chair board meetings and manage the contribution of board members

Miguel Pajares, President of Catalan Commission for Aid to Refugees (CCAR)

Background History: Born in Palencia in 1950, you are an important social anthropologist in Spain and a graduate of the University of Barcelona. You currently work as a researcher at the University of Barcelona and as president of the Catalan Commission for Refugee Aid, a position you have held since 2013. You are also the Spanish rapporteur for the OECD System of Permanent Observation of Migration (SOPEMI) and an expert member – in the field of immigration and asylum – of the European Social and Economic Committee. Despite your increasingly active role in the refugee and migrant crisis, you have continued with your pursuits in academia. You are a member of the University of Barcelona Research Group on Exclusion and Social Control, while also teaching in masters courses in a number of Spanish universities. In addition, you are the author of Immigrants of the East (Icària, 2007) and Citizen ​ ​ ​ Integration: A Perspective for Immigration (Icària, 2005). ​

Portfolio Powers: Overt ● You oversee the CCAR humanitarian relief operations in the Catalan region and its refugee resettlement and assistance programs ● You advocate, on both a regional and federal level, for government assistance and legislative reform to help migrants and refugees coming to Spain ● You also cooperate with other refugee agencies in Spain and with the European Commission to create better opportunities for refugees to rebuild their lives in Spain