César Luena López (born 29 October 1980) is a Spanish politician of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) who has been serving as Member of the European Parliament since 2019. He was a member of the 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th terms of the Congress of Deputies in representation of La Rioja. Early life and education Born in Logroño on 29 October 1980, A student in a rural school vis-à-vis his early education, he took his highschool education in Nájera. He earned a licentiate degree in Humanities at the University of La Rioja (UR) in 2003. Political career Early beginnings Luena joined the Socialist Youth at age 17 and the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) when he was 20 years old. After becoming Secretary General of the Socialist Youth of La Rioja region in 2002, Luena served as municipal councillor in Bobadilla from 2003 to 2007. Also active in college organizations at the national level, he was a member of the Federation of Progressive Students of Spain (2004–2007) and the (2006–2007). Luena ran 13th in the PSOE list for the 2007 regional election in La Rioja and, elected, he served as member of the regional legislature from 2007 to 2008. He was designated as head of the PSOE list in La Rioja to the Lower House for the 2008 general election, becoming a member of the 9th term of the Congress of Deputies. He renovated his seat for the 10th, 11th and 12th terms. In 2012, Luena was elected as the Secretary General of the regional branch of PSOE, the PSOE La Rioja. In March 2014, he earned a PhD at the UR reading a dissertation titled Antonio Larrea: el alma del Rioja ("Antonio Larrea: The Soul of La Rioja"), supervised by José Luis Gómez Urdáñez. Career in national politics After Pedro Sánchez became the PSOE leader in July 2014, the latter chose Luena as Secretary of Organization of the party. A member of Sánchez's inner circle during the later's first spell as party leader, he left the post after the political "defenestration" of Sánchez during the 2016 PSOE crisis in the Autumn of 2016 and the ensuing installation of an interim board; he was one of the sanchistas who distanced from their former leader, showing indifference towards Sánchez during the latter's intervention at the second investiture session of Mariano Rajoy as Prime Minister in October 2016. Luena sided with