Spain is marking a historic moment for the country with the election of Down syndrome advocate Mar Garcellan as a member of parliament. She is the first member of Congress with Down syndrome in this country’s history.
Mr. Garcellan’s success in politics is undoubtedly a pivotal milestone for people with genetic disorders in this country, across Europe, and indeed around the world, and has improved their ability to govern and succeed in politics. It was an opportunity to prove it.
Garcellin is believed to be the first person with Down syndrome to reach national or regional parliamentary level in Europe, according to reports.
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Garcellan told the Guardian that her success was “unprecedented”. She said, “Society is starting to recognize that people with Down syndrome have a lot to contribute.”
Garcellan also revealed that he still believes it will be a “very long journey.”
The 45-year-old Spanish politician has been involved with the conservative People’s Party since joining the party at the age of 18.
Candidates with genetic conditions have been running for office all over the world. Garceran’s success comes after Spain became Spain’s first municipal councilor with the genetic disorder in Valladolid in 2013, when Ángela Batiller, a woman with Down syndrome, became Spain’s first city councilor with the genetic disorder. Bashirah took over the post after her predecessor resigned amid corruption allegations.
In Peru in 2019, Brian Russell, 27, a man with Down syndrome, ran for Congress and campaigned as a “clean, honest and transparent” candidate.
During his campaign, Russell said he wanted to “break the paradigm” and prove that people with Down syndrome can be independent, an idea he believed was not common in Peruvian society.
The CDC defines Down syndrome as a condition in which a child is born with an extra chromosome. People with Down syndrome have an extra copy of their chromosome 21, causing what is called a “trisomy.” Down syndrome is also called “trisomy 21.” People with Down syndrome exhibit a variety of physical and mental characteristics.
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