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Ines ArrimadasSpanish and Catalan politician
Date of Birth: 03.07.1981
Country:  Spain |
Content:
- Ines Arrimadas: Spanish and Catalan Political Leader
- Career in Business
- Political Career
- Regional Politics
- National Politics
- Leader of Ciudadanos
- Personal Life
Ines Arrimadas: Spanish and Catalan Political Leader
Early Life and EducationInes Arrimadas García was born on July 3, 1981, in Cádiz, Spain, to Rufiño Arrimadas García and Inés García López. As the youngest of five children, she developed a passion for Catalan culture and dreamed of becoming an archaeologist. She attended the Catholic school Nuestra Señora del Pilar in Jerez de la Frontera.
After completing high school, Arrimadas enrolled at the University of Pablo de Olavide, where she pursued degrees in law, public administration, and business management. She also studied at the IPAG Business School in Nice, France, through the Erasmus program.
Career in Business
Upon graduating, Arrimadas worked for a year and a half as a department head for the petrochemical company MAT. She then relocated to Barcelona, where she spent six years as a consultant for D'Aleph.
Political Career
In 2010, Arrimadas attended an event hosted by the Ciudadanos party at the Romea Theater. She quickly became involved and joined the party's youth wing the following year.
Regional Politics
In 2012, Arrimadas was elected to the Parliament of Catalonia as a representative of Cuidadanos-Partido de la Ciudadanía. Three years later, she became the party's parliamentary leader in Catalonia and its official leader of the opposition.
National Politics
In 2015, Arrimadas led Ciudadanos in the Spanish general elections. The party gained 17.9% of the vote, increasing its representation in the Congress of Deputies from 9 to 25 seats. Arrimadas was the party's candidate for President of the Generalitat of Catalonia but lost to pro-independence parties.
In 2017, Ciudadanos emerged as the most popular party in Catalonia's early elections. Arrimadas claimed victory, though the separatists retained a majority.
In 2019, Arrimadas was elected to the Congress of Deputies as a representative of Barcelona. She became the party's official spokesperson in the Congress.
Leader of Ciudadanos
On March 8, 2020, Arrimadas was elected leader of Ciudadanos with 76.91% of the vote. She defeated her opponent, Francisco Igea, to become the first woman to lead the party.
Personal Life
On July 30, 2016, Arrimadas married Xavier Cima, a former Catalan nationalist politician who represented Convergence in the Parliament of Catalonia. On May 21, 2020, the couple welcomed their son, Alex.
