Mar Galcerán was elected to the Corts Valencianes, the regional legislature of the Valencian Community in Spain. This marked a historic moment, as she became the first-ever parliamentarian in Spain with Down syndrome. However, Galcerán is a member of the People’s Party (PP), a conservative political party in Spain.
In Spain, something special just happened in politics! Mar Galcerán has been elected to the regional assembly in Valencia. This is a big deal because Mar has Down’s syndrome, making her the first person with this condition to be elected to a regional or national parliament in Europe.
Mar has been interested in politics since she was 18 years old and joined Spain’s conservative People’s Party. She wants people to see her for who she is, not just her disability. Moreover, Mar believes that people with Down’s syndrome have a lot to offer to society.
While Galcerán’s September swearing-in was hailed by Spanish media, she said the reaction online had been mixed. “You find all sorts on social media,” she said. “There are people who support me. But there are also others who think I’m not capable. But these are people who don’t know me or my background.”
Her election has been celebrated by many. Carlos Mazón, the President of the Regional Government of Valencia, called it “great news” and a way to break down barriers. Agustín Matía Amor from Down España, an organization supporting people with Down’s syndrome in Spain, called it a “huge step forward” for real inclusion.
Éléonore Laloux is the first person in France to have a genetic disorder who was appointed as a city council member in 2020. Similarly, history was created by Fintan Bray in Ireland in 2022.
Down’s syndrome is a genetic condition that someone is born with; it’s not a disease or something you can catch. It affects a person’s learning and physical health, but its impact varies from person to person. Around 60,000 people in the UK are estimated to have Down’s syndrome.
