Josep Antoni Duran i Lleida: the man who gives thanks every day for no longer being in politics

MadridJosep Antoni Duran i Lleida was a totem for many years of Catalan and Spanish politics. The best-rated leader in Catalonia and with influence in Madrid, he was abruptly removed from politics because he did not secure representation for Unió in the Spanish elections of 2015. He had already planned to gradually retire, but that defeat, which he experienced as a tragedy, relegated him from public life. Now, eleven years later, he gives thanks every day for not being there. Thanks for not having experienced the peak of the 'Procés' firsthand, which he always considered to be going down the wrong path, nor the current Congress hemicycle with its polarized atmosphere. He does deeply regret the demise of CiU, as he believes that both Catalonia and the State as a whole have lost out. However, this does not mean that Duran i Lleida is retired. At 74 years old and a grandfather, he continues to be hyperactive and his schedule is packed. The difference is that now he does it out of the spotlight.

Since leaving politics, he has served on various boards of directors: first at Mapfre Internacional, then at Aena, and now he is part of the subsidiaries of this entity that manage up to seventeen airports in Brazil. He has also been on the advisory board of the public affairs consultancy Kreab, of Swedish capital, and Burson, an American firm in the same field. And, on a non-profit basis, he promoted the European Leadership academy and is the coordinator of the Spain-Italy Forum. Thus, he travels whenever necessary, but maintains his residence in Barcelona. As long as his health allows, he will not cease his activity.