Ernest Lluch


Ernest Lluch Martín, was a Spanish economist and politician, member of the Socialists' Party of Catalonia. He was Minister of Health and Consumption from 1982–1986 in the first Spanish Socialist Workers' Party government of Felipe González. He was assassinated in 2000 by the Basque separatist organisation, ETA.

Background

Lluch was born in Vilassar de Mar, Barcelona province. He earned a PhD in Economic Sciences at the University of Barcelona, and studied further at the Sorbonne in Paris. While he was a lecturer at the UB, he was arrested on several occasions and expelled from the University because of his anti-francoist political activity. From this position, he published seminal works on Spanish political economy. He held the Chair of Economics at the University of Valencia and the Chair of History of Economic Doctrines at the UB. His last official position was as Director of the Menéndez Pelayo International University in Santander, from 1989 to 1995.

Later career and death

In April 1980 he was chosen as spokesman of the Socialists' Party of Catalonia to the Congress of Deputies, and, two years later, in the 1982 general election, he was elected member of the Lower House of the in representation of Barcelona. Felipe González appointed him as Minister of Health and Consumption in his first government. He held the post until 1986.
In May 1986 he retired from politics to resume the chair of History of Economic Doctrines of the University of Barcelona. On 2 January 1989 he took up his position as Director of the Menéndez Pelayo International University in Santander.
He was assassinated by ETA, who shot him twice in the head at his home in Barcelona, in 2000. At a UEFA football match with Club Brugge later that week, FC Barcelona came onto the pitch wearing black armbands in honor of Lluch, who had also been a fervent supporter of the team.