1974, degree in Medicine and Surgery, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona; 1975, certificate, Educational Commission for Foreign Graduates, USA; 1977, postgraduate course in Public Health and Epidemiology, Edinburgh Medical School. 1979, joined the Barcelona City Council as Director, Municipal Health Services; 1981-83, Coordinator, Public Health; 1983, Councillor, representing the Socialist Party of Catalonia; Director, Public Health; 1987, Councillor-President, Ciutat Vella District Council; 1991, Second-Deputy Mayor; 1995, First-Deputy Mayor and President, Treasury and Infrastructure Commission; 1997, Mayor of Barcelona, Vice-President, Executive Bureau, Council of the European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) and Vice-President, United Towns Organisation (UTO); 1999 and 2003, re-elected Mayor of Barcelona; 2006, Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism; 2008, Ambassador of Spain to Turkey. Member, IULA.