Some of her ancestors were involved in local politics. Her maternal grandfather, Francesc Vergés Ordeig, was the mayor of
Sant Pere de Torelló between 1956 and 1965. One of her great-grandfathers on her father's side, Jaume Rivera Camps, was the mayor of
Prats de Lluçanès between 1939 and 1941. Rovira holds a degree in Law from
Pompeu Fabra University and in
Political sciences and
Public administration from the
Open University of Catalonia. Previously, she was a member secretary of the Young Lawers of Catalonia (2006–2007), head of the Young Lawyers Group of Vic (2004–2006) and on their behalf she was a member of the Governing Body of the Vic Bar Association, also a member of the Solidarity Platform of the UPF (1999) and she was responsible for Jurists Without Borders, a student association (1997–1999). She participated in the group of
Castellers Sagals d'Osona Political career Marta Rovira is a member of Esquerra Republicana since 2005. During the 25th National Congress of the party, held in 2008, she was elected National Secretary for International, European and Cooperation politics. That same year, and until 2012, she was also the General Secretary of the
European Free Alliance. At the 26th National Congress (2011) she was elected general Secretary of Esquerra Republicana. Rovira's main political motivations are the defence of human rights, especially
women's rights,
social justice, and the
independence of Catalonia. Rovira stands for republicanism as a model that considers the general interest and the common good, equal opportunities, transparency and zero corruption. As a pro-independence activist, Rovira argues that republican principles can only be achieved in a
Catalan Republic, and this must be won in a
referendum that allows Catalans to choose their future.
Court case and exile On 22 December 2017, she was charged by the
Spanish Supreme Court for an alleged crime of rebellion for her participation during the organisation of the
referendum on self-determination on 1 October 2017. She was summoned to testify by the same court on 19 February 2018 and eventually released on bail of €60,000. On 21 March 2018, judge Pablo Llarena summoned those investigated in the case to 23 March to inform them of the indictment and review their provisional release status. On 22 March 2018, after the failed vote for the investiture of
Jordi Turull as
president of the Generalitat de Catalunya, Rovira resigned, along with
Carme Forcadell and
Dolors Bassa, from her seat as a member of Parliament. The following day, she decided not to appear before the Supreme Court, claiming that she did not have enough judicial guarantees, and went into exile in
Switzerland, On the same day, 23 March 2018, judge Pablo Llarena activated a
European and international arrest warrant and an extradition request against Rovira, in addition to those reactivated against
Carles Puigdemont,
Antoni Comín,
Lluís Puig,
Meritxell Serret and
Clara Ponsatí. On 19 July 2018, in view of the decision of the German judiciary against the surrender of
Carles Puigdemont for the crime of rebellion, Llarena withdrew all European and international arrest warrants issued, including Rovira's. She remained in exile in Switzerland until July 2024. She couldn't return to Spain since she was under a warrant for her arrest and imprisonment. In case she left Switzerland, she would have to face a European arrest warrant. From Geneva, she worked as a General Secretary of Esquerra Republicana and also on many projects promoting policy research on cultural and linguistic diversity, the right to self-determination, conflict resolution and human rights, among others, at European and international level. In July 2024 she crossed the Spanish border and returned to Catalonia, after the court case was shelved.
Personal life She is married to Raúl Presseguer and had a daughter, Agnès, in 2011. == Books about Marta Rovira ==