Former Mollerussa mayor Josep Grau Seris, who later served as Catalonia’s agriculture minister, died in Barcelona on September 8, 2026, at the age of 80. The Mollerussa city council and the Associació Catalana de Municipis (ACM), which he once headed, confirmed his death. Local officials and political colleagues have acknowledged his long public service and his influence on the city and the wider Pla d’Urgell region.
Grau was born in Mollerussa on November 8, 1945, and was also known for his work in the agricultural and food industries.
He entered politics in 1983 as a councillor for Convergència Democràtica de Catalunya. His three terms as mayor under Convergència i Unió shaped Mollerussa, and the current city administration still points to changes made during his leadership. Grau also served as president of the ACM from 1996 to 1999, where he worked to strengthen Catalan municipal government.
After leaving the mayor’s office in 1999, Grau joined the Catalan Parliament and was soon appointed the Generalitat’s councillor for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries under President Jordi Pujol. He held the post from 1999 to 2003. His work focused on rural development and agricultural policy. Colleagues and successors, including Òscar Ordeig, the current agriculture councillor, and José Crespín, the government’s subdelegate in Lleida, have highlighted Grau’s dedication to public service and his strong ties to the Lleida region.
Jordi Turull, secretary general of Junts, also noted Grau’s commitment to the agricultural sector and his connection to the land and people of Lleida and Catalonia. The Mollerussa city council, led by Marc Solsona Aixalà, issued a formal message of condolence and thanks, recognizing Grau’s years of service and local legacy.
Grau’s time as mayor is closely linked to the official creation of the Pla d’Urgell comarca and Mollerussa’s role as its capital.
In Mollerussa, the local government expressed condolences to Grau’s family and friends and pointed to visible changes in the city’s infrastructure and civic life dating from his time in office.
Recent events in Catalonia, including the deaths of public figures and incidents such as the wall collapse in Tarragona, have renewed attention to the importance of local leadership in difficult times.
Grau’s death closes a impressive chapter for Mollerussa and the Pla d’Urgell. Tributes from across the political spectrum reflected the respect he earned.
