Mar Galcerán | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Corts Valencianes | |
| Assumed office 14 September 2023 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1978 or 1979 (age 45–46) |
| Political party | People's Party |
Mar Galcerán (born 1978 or 1979) is a Spanish politician who has been a member of the Corts Valencianes, the legislature of the Valencian Community, since 14 September 2023. A member of the People's Party (PP), Galcerán is the first Spanish regional legislator with Down syndrome.
Early life and career
Born in 1978 or 1979, Galcerán joined the conservative People's Party at the age of 18, citing its "embrace of tradition". She served as a civil servant for many years,[lower-alpha 1] including 13 as an intern with the President of the Generalitat Valenciana and four years with Asindown, a Valencian organization helping families with children with Down syndrome.[1][2]
Parliamentary career
In May 2023, Galcerán was placed 20th on the People's Party's party list for the 2023 Valencian regional election.[2] She fell one seat short of becoming a member of the Corts Valencianes; however, due to the appointment of deputy Ernesto Fernández Pardo as the director general of the Entidad Valenciana de Vivienda y Suelo, Galcerán joined the Corts on 14 September 2023. She was the first person with Down syndrome to serve on a Spanish regional legislature,[1] and, according to Down España, she may be the first person with Down syndrome to serve in a European regional parliament. As a member of the Corts, Galcerán hopes to help eliminate prejudice in society, saying that "I want people to see me as a person, not just for my disability."[2]
Notes
- ↑ La Vanguardia states Galcerán was a public servant for 26 years,[1] while The Guardian states she was for 20 years.[2]
References
- 1 2 3 Enguix, Salvador (14 September 2023). "Mar Galcerán (PP), diputada con síndrome de Down, ya tiene su escaño en Cortes Valencianas" [Mar Galcerán (PP), deputy with Down syndrome, has her seat in the Cortes Valencianas]. La Vanguardia (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 9 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
- 1 2 3 4 Kassam, Ashifa (9 January 2024). "Mar Galcerán makes history as Spain's first parliamentarian with Down's syndrome". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 9 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.