TED Community » Ernest Benach

About Me

My youth

I was born in Reus, (Catalonia) November 12 1959. From very young I was attracted by citizen activism and politics. Therefore, I was involved in many movements. I was, and still am restless and the emerging national spirit and build the country that boiled the years of transition pushed me to work for institutions of Catalonia. In 1979 I worked for the Government of Catalonia, still provisional and chaired by Josep Tarradellas, specifically the Directorate General for Transport and, later, the General Directorate of Youth.
In 1980 I began my political activity in a more institutional manner. I was a founding member of left-wing nationalist candidate and I was chosen candidate forTarragona in the first parliamentary elections in Catalonia after the dictatorship.
I combined, therefore, the civic and political engagement with it is that time when, with a group of people from Reus, founded the Agrupament Escolta La Mulassa (scouting team). After which I became part of the leadership of Catalan Scouts and over the years-as a sign of belief in the pedagogical use fulness of Scouting, the General Assembly of the World Scout Parliamentary Union, an organization that brings together parliamentarians around the world related to Scouting, with the aim to propose ideas and proposals concerning the youth policy.
My other passions are the human towers. In 1981 I put up the “Colla Castellera Xiquets de Reus” ,where, among other functions, I have been president and head of the group. A truly exciting relationship with many people and building projects, dreams, city and country. With time I created a programme at Radio Reus culture for 10 years.

The jump into ERC. Municipal action.
In 1987I joined ERC. The same year when I began my period in municipal politics. I was the leader of the Reus City Council elections in 1987, 1991, 1995 and 1999. During this long period until 2001 was my time for training and growth in politics. My experience of those years is irreplaceable. Both in the first tenure as mayor in the Department of Culture, Sports, Youth, Economic Development, Language Policy, Cooperation and Information Society. In this municipal aspect I had various responsibilities in different municipal corporations promoting a new management model. I chaired the Board of the University Hospital Sant Joan de Reus and Management Regional Hospital and Cancer Foundation and was vice president of Group Health Care and Social (Sagessa). In the economic area, I headed Reus Economic Development, SA and was a member of the General Council and Executive Committee of the Fira de Reus. I keep a fond memory of that period as municipal politics is the direct contact with citizens. It is more difficult but also more grateful. To work for the people that have grown up with you, live with you and feel what you feel is the best job ever.
In 1992 I was elected for Parliament and began my involvement in the parliamentary life of the country. First I was chairman of the Agriculture Committee of the Legislature and was second secretary of the Bureau of the VI and VI Legislatures.

President of Parliament
On December 5th 2003 I was elected President of the Parliement of Catalonia. I had the need for political passion, with conviction, with the utmost dedication and consistency, but also claim, with all the conviction of the world, the 'word' and 'dialogue' as the main tools of our relationship policy.
From October 2004 to October 2005 I had the honour of chairing the Conference of European Regional Legislative Assemblies, CALRE, one of those bodies unknown to the public, but that does important work because it has into account the role of parliaments and governments in the sub-project of common European construction.
On November 17 2006, I was electedfor the second time as President.
At this stage we launched a programme, which allowed Parliament 2.0 incorporate ICT in parliamentary and dynamic approach to public policy
Also in this period I published the book Policy 2.0, a reflection on how new technologies and social networks could affect the ways of doing politics

After politics
Once the legislature from 2006 to 2010 came to an end I left politics to rejoin civilian life. In this sense I started working on diferent projects related to Internet and started a business with other partners to found a company in electronic public opinion research.
I also collaborated with various media, RAC1, El Periodico, El Mundo Deportivo, 8TV, Tribuna Catalana and DelCamp.cat.
In this moment I am the president of the Scout Foundation Josep Carol