Josu Jon Imaz

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Josu Jon Imaz in a EGI congress

Josu Jon Imaz San Miguel (born Zumarraga, Gipuzkoa, 6 September 1963) is a politician and chemist in the Basque Country autonomous community, Spain. He was president of the Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ-PNV), until he left his position because of his political differences with the Basque region governor, Juan Jose Ibarretxe.

Imaz gained a doctorate in Chemistry from the University of the Basque Country and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry from the Science Faculty in Donostia. In December 1986 he was seconded by the INASMET technology centre to the French centre CETIM in Nantes under a grant from the Ministry of Industry and Energy as part of its programme for training researchers abroad. He was head of the Composites & Polymers Area of INASMET from 1987 to 1989. Imaz was recruited by the Mondragón Cooperative Corporation in 1989-1991 as an industrial promoter and trained in general business management in 1989-90. He was head of the Department of Marketing and Foreign Relations of INASMET 1991-1994.

Imaz joined the Basque Nationalist Party in 1978 and became chairman of the youth wing (EGI) of his local party 1979-82. He served on the regional and national committees of the youth movement until 1986. He also served on the Zumarraga municipal assembly of the PNV-EAJ and was a delegate to the national assembly 1983-85, 1986-88 and 1992-94. He served on the Gipuzkoa party executive 1988-90. He also served as Deputy Mayor and Councillor for Treasury Affairs and Development of Zumarraga 1991-95.

Imaz was elected as a Member of the European Parliament in June 1994, and served until 7 January 1999, when he was appointed Minister of Industry, Trade & Tourism and spokesman of the Basque Government. He was re-elected as Minister of Industry, Trade & Tourism and spokesman by a Basque Cabinet meeting on 17 July 2001, having become a member of the Basque Parliament, and held these posts until 13 January 2004.

At the Basque Nationalist Party's general assembly on 17-18 January 2004, Imaz was elected chairman of the Euzkadi Buru Batzar (EBB), the national executive of the Party.

He is married with three children, resident in Donostia.