Romanian-born journalist Marcela Topor has become the first lady of Catalonia, one of Spain’s richest autonomous regions, as her husband was elected the leader of the regional government on Sunday, according to Spanish media.

Carles Puigdemont, 53, the former mayor of the city of Girona, was confirmed as Catalonia’s new leader on Sunday, January 10. He pledged in front of the regional Parliament that he would carry out a plan to separate the region from the rest of Spain in the next 18 months, a movement that is strongly opposed by Spain’s central Government in Madrid, led by Mariano Rajoy.

Puigdemont’s wife, Romanian Marcela Topor, runs the newspaper Catalonia Today, which targets English speakers in Catalonia. She also hosts a talk show in English for foreigners on a local TV channel.

The couple met in the 1990s and married in the Orthodox and Catholic rites. They have two daughters.

editor@romania-insider.com

(Photo source: Catalonia Today on Twitter)