Carme Forcadell (born 29 May 1955) is a Catalan politician and civic activist best known for her leadership roles during a turbulent period in Catalonia's recent political history. She combined local government experience with active involvement in grassroots pro‑independence organizations, becoming a prominent public figure between 2012 and 2018.

Positions and public roles

  • President of the Parliament of Catalonia, 2015–2018.
  • President of the Catalan National Assembly (Assemblea Nacional Catalana), 2012–2015.
  • Municipal councillor in Sabadell, 2003–2007.

Her background includes long‑term participation in civic and cultural associations; before entering regional leadership she was active at the municipal level and in civil society campaigns that promoted the Catalan language and self‑government.

Role in the 2017 independence process

As speaker of the Catalan Parliament, Forcadell presided over sessions that advanced the region's push for independence, including parliamentary debates and votes linked to the October 2017 referendum and the subsequent unilateral declaration of independence. Her role as a procedural leader of the chamber placed her at the center of public attention during the crisis.

Following the 2017 events, Forcadell faced criminal proceedings related to her part in enabling parliamentary actions connected with the referendum and declaration. She was detained and subsequently convicted in proceedings that drew widespread national and international attention. In 2021 she was among political figures whose sentences were commuted through a government pardon, a step presented as part of a broader effort at political reconciliation.

Forcadell's career highlights recurring themes in contemporary Catalan politics: the interplay of regional institutions, mass civic mobilization, and constitutional conflict with the central government. Her tenure continues to be cited in debates about parliamentary privilege, the limits of political dissent, and processes for resolving territorial disputes through law and negotiation.

For more detailed biographical information consult an authoritative source: official profile and documents.