Jordi Pujol Ferrusola's Political Influence on Artur Mas's Rise

Jordi Pujol Ferrusola, the eldest son of former Catalan president Jordi Pujol, exerted considerable political influence behind the scenes, particularly in the rise of Artur Mas as his father's successor. This was evident in his 23 February 2015 appearance before the Catalan Parliament's investigation committee, where he cryptically stated, "Mr Mas is a very good friend of mine, I know he will attend to me the day I need him."

While now a central figure in the National Court trial, Pujol Ferrusola, known as 'Júnior', was involved in politics from an early age. In 1976, he helped establish the JCDC, which later became the Nationalist Youth of Catalonia (JNC), the youth wing of Convergència. He initially aimed to be the first coordinator of the youth group but was unsuccessful due to disputes with other founders, according to Francesc-Marc Álvaro's 2003 book, Ara sí que toca.

This early setback led him away from formal party politics. He instead aligned with GEN, an influential intergenerational group formed in 1982 with an essentialist discourse. Although he never held a formal position, Pujol Ferrusola used GEN as a platform to operate effectively within Convergència. He was instrumental in the early 1990s power struggle between Jordi Pujol and Miquel Roca. He also championed a congressional amendment on party funding, which has since raised questions about alleged malpractice within the party for decades.

Early Connections and Mentorship

Pujol Ferrusola first met Artur Mas when Mas worked as a manager at Vilassar Internacional, part of the Tipel group, between 1988 and 1992. This company was chaired by a cousin of Lluís Prenafeta, a close collaborator of Jordi Pujol who was later convicted in the Pretoria case. Early collaborators of Jordi Pujol, such as Miquel Sellarès, often repeated the phrase, "One of the president's mistakes was leaving his children's education in Prenafeta's hands."

Throughout the 1990s, while Pujol Ferrusola intensified his private business activities, his political influence continued behind the scenes. Despite his brother Oriol Pujol's move into institutional life, Jordi Pujol Ferrusola participated in influential discussion groups that shaped the party's and Catalonia's future. One such group was the 'Grup de Mollerussa', active between 1993 and 1996.

This group met at a property owned by Josep Grau, who later became Minister of Agriculture. According to Álvaro's book, participants included Francesc Xavier Marimon, Isidre Gavín, Pere Macias, Pere Esteve, Artur Mas (who joined later), and Jordi Pujol Ferrusola, who acted as a coordinator. They discussed high-level appointments and regional lists, aiming to influence President Pujol. The question of Jordi Pujol's succession was already a topic of discussion.

The Barcelona Mayoral Challenge

Several names were considered for the succession. Jaume Roma was a fleeting contender, while Joan Maria Pujals, favoured by Jordi Pujol and with leadership ambitions, withdrew after a Catalan language law he supported failed to pass. Pujol Ferrusola was one of Pujals's supporters. When Pujals's candidacy faltered, Mas's name began to emerge.

A significant, often overlooked, episode occurred in 1998. Mas, then Minister of Economy, challenged Joaquim Molins for the candidacy for Mayor of Barcelona. Mas had previously served as a city councillor, opposing Pasqual Maragall, and publicly expressed his desire for the mayoral role in an interview with La Vanguardia. However, Jordi Pujol favoured Molins, a former minister and CiU's leader in Madrid since 1996, who had been involved in major agreements like the Pact of the Majestic.

Jordi and Oriol Pujol were behind Mas's temporary challenge to Molins. Mas had also previously worked under Molins as Director General in the Ministry of Commerce, Consumer and Tourism. The contest, which Mas led as president of Convergència's Barcelona federation, ended with Molins as the candidate. Molins, however, failed to break CiU's losing streak in the city, which did not govern until Xavier Trias became mayor in 2011.

Mas's Unstoppable Ascent

Despite the mayoral outcome, Mas emerged strengthened. Jordi Pujol appointed him spokesperson and then 'conseller en cap' (chief minister). Concurrently, Mas became the Secretary General of CDC. From this position, he defeated Josep A. Duran i Lleida, leader of Unió, in the battle to succeed Jordi Pujol. The former president's sons, Oriol and Jordi, along with other key party figures, were critical to this victory.

David Madí, whom Mas chose as his chief of staff, organised dinners at his grandmother's home in the late 1990s to influence Convergència's future. Before this, Pujol Ferrusola had organised similar gatherings. These meetings included future political figures such as Francesc Homs, Quim Forn, Germà Gordó, and Felip Puig, who had a good relationship with 'Júnior'.

Pujol Ferrusola also introduced Mas to businessman Rafael Español, who became part of Mas's inner circle alongside Jordi Vilajoana. Pujol Ferrusola was part of this group of friends, which also included Sixte Cambra, for a time. His membership in this circle, while married to Mercè Gironès, allowed him to state in parliament that he was "very good friends" with Mas.

Accounts from the 1990s show that without the support of family members, Mas, who eventually dismantled Convergència after its founder confessed to hidden overseas wealth, would not have reached the Palau de la Generalitat. Jordi Pujol Ferrusola was not only a businessman but also conducted business within politics.