Salvador Illa

Salvador Illa Roca (born 5 May 1966) is a Spanish politician who served as Minister of Health of Spain from 2020 to 2021. He has been the Secretary for Organization of the Socialists' Party of Catalonia since 2016, and the candidate for the presidency of Catalonia for this party. Previously, Illa served as Mayor of La Roca del Vallès from 1995 to 2005. Born in La Roca del Vallès, Spain on 5 May 1966, Illa is the son of Josep Illa, a worker at the Textiles and Embroidery factory in that municipality, and María Roca, who owned a small textile workshop. He has two younger brothers, Ramón and José María. Illa attended Escola Pía School in Granollers and he studied in the University of Barcelona, where he received his Philosophy degree. He is Associate Professor of the Blanquerna School of Communication and International Relations. Illa also studied a master's degree in Economics and Business Management at IESE Business School, University of Navarra. He completed compulsory military service, graduating as Alférez in a company of the Spanish Army Headquarters of Bruc, Barcelona. He was elected councillor of the City Council of La Roca del Vallès in 1987 and he was appointed Councillor for Culture under Mayor Romà Planas i Miró. In 1995, he joined the Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC) and he became Mayor in replacement of the deceased Mayor. During his first term, La Roca Village was built, a shopping center that attracts nearly 4 million visitors each year. He was ousted as Mayor after a successful vote of no confidence in early 1999, but he soon made a comeback as his party commanded a qualified majority at the June 1999 local elections. In 2009, he moved to the private sector, being CEO of the audiovisual production company Cromosoma, a position he held for nine months. In September 2005, he was appointed Director-General for Infrastructure Management of the Department of Justice of the Regional Government of Catalonia. From 2010 to 2011 he was Director of the Economic Management Office of the City Council of Barcelona and Coordinator of the Local Socialist Group in the City Council from 2011 to 2016.