Ernest Sena, former director of Institut Català de Finances, dies at 80

Ernest Sena i Calabuig, a prominent economist and key figure in the Spanish Transition, has died in Valencia at the age of 80.

Sena held significant institutional roles in both the Valencian Community and Catalonia. In 1978, he served as the first Director General of Economy for the pre-autonomous Council of the Valencian Country. His career later transitioned to Catalonia, where he directed the Institut Català de Finances (ICF) between 1993 and 2004 under the CiU governments. Additionally, he served as the Síndic de Comptes (Comptroller) of the Generalitat de Catalunya from 2005 to 2011.

A lifelong advocate for the Valencian language and a member of the Unió Democràtica del País Valencià (UDPV) since the mid-1960s, Sena was deeply involved in the democratic movement and the recovery of Valencian institutions. His professional background also included work in journalism and economics, having served as the head of the economy section for El Correo Catalán and as a director for the studies service of the Valencia Stock Exchange.