The Spanish Basque Country parliamentary election saw a historic success for the separatist left-wing alliance EH Bildu on Sunday. With around 95 percent of the votes counted, the alliance won 27 seats – six more than in the last vote in 2020. However, despite this victory, the separatists remain in opposition as signs suggest that the government coalition between conservative regional party PNV and socialists (PSOE) will continue.
According to available results, PNV (27) and PSOE (12) have an absolute majority of 39 out of the total 75 seats in the parliament in Vitoria, with EH Bildu winning six more seats than in the previous election. The coalition would lose two seats, but they are nationalist like EH Bildu and demand more self-determination for the Basques from central government in Madrid. Iñigo Urkullu, who has been head of government since 2012 and is seen as less radical than EH Bildu leaders, did not present himself as top candidate this time. He will likely be replaced by his party colleague Imanol Pradales.
The terrorist organization ETA had waged a bloody battle for an independent Basque country for decades before announcing their dissolution in 2018. In approximately 3,000 attacks, they killed 857 people and injured around 2,600 people. Despite their disbandment, Spain’s autonomous regions continue to thrive economically, including Basque Country which is now one of Spain’s wealthiest regions.
