The Eusko Alkartasuna reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Jul-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Eusko Alkartasuna

Eusko Alkartasuna, Basque and Spanish regional political party, translated as Basque Solidarity and abbreviated as EA, is a party which describes itself as a Basque national, democratic, popular, progressive and non-denominational party. Recently, the party adopted to subtitle itself "Euskal Sozialdemokrazia", literally translated as "Basque social democracy".

Name

The Standard Basque for "solidarity" is elkartasun. Alkartasun is a Biscayne form. Probably it was chosen to remind of EAJ, the Basque acronym of the party EA branched from, and of the nationalist trade union Eusko Langileen Alkartasuna. At the foundation, "EE" was used by Euskadiko Ezkerra. Its logo has "EA" in white on a half-red, half-green oak leave. Red, green and white are the colors of the Basque flag.

According to their statute, they are striving to achieve full national and social freedom in and for the Basque Country. They do support the creation of an independent Euskal Herria, but see it rather as achievable through the project of a European Union of peoples, a federation of nations, not states.

Origin

Even though the idea for a Basque national political party separated from both Herri Batasuna and the Partido Nacionalista Vasco emerged in 1986, it was not until 1987 that the first congress of the party was held in Iruña (Pamplona) in 1987. Carlos Garaikoetxea was then elected as the party's first president. It appeared as a schism in PNV. The division was based on:

• A personality clash between the lehendakari Garaikoetxea and the PNV leader Xabier Arzalluz.
• The configuration of the Basque Country:
  • A strong Basque government and weak provinces (EA).
  • Strong provinces (PNV).
• Left (EA) / right (PNV)

The division was bitter. Every local organization had to vote, whether to go to EA or remain in PNV. Many PNV political bars (batzoki, "meeting place") became alkartetxe ("mutual house"). Ramón Doral, an Basque policeman very related to PNV was condemned on wiretapping of EA leaders for PNV.

As time passed, the bitterness has decreased and EA has participated in several Basque governments, including the current one of President Juan José Ibarretxe Markuartu. In the 2004 elections, the party has one one seat in the congress of the Spanish parliament, from the province of Gipuzkoa, with some 80,000 votes.

After the breakup of Euskadiko Ezkerra, EA picked the dissidents grouped in Euskal Ezkerra.

The party is currently headed by Begoña Errazti.

For more information, consult the official website of Eusko Alkartasuna. The youth of Eusko Alkartasuna, Gazte Abertzaleak or young patriots, also maintain a website.

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