--- type: politician_profile lang: en canonical: https://www.politicaelectoral.com/en/spain/politicians/carme-forcadell nombre: Carme Forcadell i Lluís partido: erc generado: 2026-05-02T21:44:15 data_crc: 1184d02d --- Carme Forcadell i Lluís is a Catalan pro-independence activist and former ERC figure, best known for leading the Parliament of Catalonia during the 2017 crisis. She is linked to **Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC)**, although her public profile has often been more closely associated with the broader Catalan independence movement than with party politics alone. ## Political career Carme Forcadell was born in **1955** in Xerta, in the Terres de l’Ebre area of Catalonia. Before entering frontline politics, she built her reputation in civic and linguistic activism, particularly around the promotion of the Catalan language and Catalan identity. Her trajectory reflects a path common in modern Catalan nationalism: from cultural activism into institutional politics. She became widely known as **President of the Associació en Defensa de l’Escola Catalana** and later took on leadership roles in organisations dedicated to the normalisation and public use of Catalan. Her prominence increased significantly when she was elected **President of the Assemblea Nacional Catalana (ANC)** from **2012 to 2015**, an umbrella civic organisation that played a central role in mass mobilisations for independence. During her presidency, the ANC helped organise large-scale demonstrations, especially around Catalan National Day (11 September), and became one of the main drivers of the independence agenda outside the formal party system. After the 2015 regional election, Forcadell entered representative politics as a **Member of the Parliament of Catalonia** from **2015 to 2018**, standing in the **Junts pel Sí** electoral coalition, in a political space aligned with ERC and other pro-independence forces. She was then elected **President of the Parliament of Catalonia** in **2015**, a post she held until **2018**. In that role, she presided over some of the most politically charged sessions in the chamber’s history, including debates and votes related to the 2017 unilateral independence process. Her tenure as speaker coincided with the constitutional conflict between the Catalan institutions and the Spanish state. The Parliament’s handling of the independence process made her one of the most visible institutional figures of the so-called **procés**. After the application of Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution and the suspension of Catalan self-government in late 2017, her parliamentary role came to an end. In the **sentencia del procés** in **2019**, she was convicted of **sedition** and sentenced to **11 years and 6 months** in prison, though she was later **pardoned in 2021** by the Spanish government. That sentence became one of the defining events of her political life and a reference point in debates over judicial independence, constitutional order and political protest in Spain. ## Relationship with the public Forcadell developed a strong relationship with the pro-independence electorate and with segments of organised civil society. As ANC president, she was one of the most recognisable faces of the independence mobilisation and was able to connect institutional politics with grassroots activism. Her public image was associated with perseverance, discipline and civic legitimacy, especially among supporters of Catalan sovereignty. At the same time, her profile has been highly polarising. Supporters saw her as a democratic activist and a voice for a political mandate emerging from mass mobilisation and elections. Critics, particularly unionist sectors and many Spanish-state commentators, viewed her as a central institutional enabler of an unlawful secession strategy. As Parliament president, she was often in the media spotlight because of her role in managing debates over parliamentary procedure, the limits of the chamber’s powers and the legality of independence-related votes. Her communication style has generally been sober and institutional rather than charismatic. She has tended to project an image of **calm seriousness** rather than ideological flamboyance, which helped her appear as a steady institutional actor during periods of intense confrontation. ## Positions and political profile Forcadell’s political profile is defined by **Catalan independence**, democratic mobilisation and the defence of Catalan language and institutions. She has consistently defended the right of Catalans to decide their political future, and she has supported the legitimacy of mass civic mobilisation as a tool of democratic pressure. She is often perceived as belonging to the more civic and institutional wing of the independence movement, rather than the explicitly party-strategic wing. Even so, her role as speaker of Parliament placed her at the heart of decisions that went far beyond symbolism. Her decisions during the 2017 crisis, especially those linked to parliamentary processing of the independence roadmap, defined her public legacy and shaped how she is viewed both inside and outside ERC. Within her broader political environment, she has been respected for her loyalty to the independence cause and for her institutional dignity. Outside that circle, she is frequently seen as a symbol of the constitutional conflict that culminated in the 2017 referendum and subsequent unilateral declaration of independence. Her imprisonment and later pardon have kept her name closely associated with the legal and political repercussions of the procés. A key feature of her profile is the combination of **civic activism** and **institutional authority**. She moved from street mobilisation to parliamentary leadership, giving her unusual credibility among grassroots activists. This also exposed her to greater legal and political risk, since her role at the head of the chamber made her one of the main institutional faces of the independence challenge to the Spanish state. ## Frequently asked questions **Who is Carme Forcadell?** Carme Forcadell is a Catalan politician and activist associated with ERC and best known for being President of the Parliament of Catalonia from 2015 to 2018 and ANC president from 2012 to 2015. **What is Carme Forcadell famous for?** She is most famous for her role in the Catalan independence movement, especially as a leading civil society organiser and later as speaker of the Catalan Parliament during the 2017 crisis. **Which party does Carme Forcadell belong to?** She is linked to **Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC)**, though much of her public identity has also been shaped by her role in independentist civic organisations. **Was Carme Forcadell convicted by the courts?** Yes. In the **procés** case, she was convicted of **sedition** and sentenced to **11 years and 6 months** in prison; she was later pardoned in **2021**. **What role did Carme Forcadell play in the independence process?** She played a major institutional role as President of the Parliament of Catalonia, presiding over the chamber during the debates and votes that formed part of the 2017 independence push. **Is Carme Forcadell still active in politics?** She remains a known political figure, but her public prominence today is far lower than during her years at the head of the ANC and the Catalan Parliament.