Aralar Party
Encyclopedia
Aralar is a Basque
socialist and separatist political party
in Spain
. The party is led by Patxi Zabaleta. It is opposed to the violent struggle of ETA
.
Aralar was born in the 1990s from a critical tendency within Herri Batasuna (HB) and Euskal Herritarrok (EH), led by Patxi Zabaleta. The tendency had its main base in Navarre
.
The breaking of ETA's truce in 2000 provoked Herri Batasuna's reformation into Batasuna
, to have presence in all Euskal Herria. Following disagreements over the internal organization of Batasuna, Aralar broke away to form a separate political party.
In the May 2003 election for the Navarre Assembly, Aralar obtained 24,068 votes (8.02% of the valid votes) and four seats and in the same community obtained 4.76% of the valid votes in the municipal elections and 18 local councillors. In the Basque Autonomous Community it obtained 30 councillors and 1.51 % of the valid votes.
Aralar contested the Spanish general election, 2004 in the Basque Autonomous Community in coalition with Zutik
but failed to win any seats, polling 3.09% of the valid votes. The party contested in Navarre
as part of the coalition Nafarroa Bai
(NaBai), together with Eusko Alkartasuna
(EA), Batzarre
, the Basque Nationalist Party
(PNV) and independents, obtaining a seat for the independent Uxue Barkos
and 18.04% of the whole of valid votes, which was the highest percentage and number of votes for a Basque nationalist list in Spanish General Elections in Navarre
.
In 2004 the youth wing of Aralar, Iratzarri, was founded.
In the Basque elections of April 17, 2005, Aralar entered the Basque Parliament
with one seat and 2.33% of the votes. This seat was held by Aintzane Ezenarro
. In 2007 it won 4 local Assembly seats and 130 local council seats in the Basque Autonomous Community, in coalition with Ezker Batua, and 5 local Assembly seats and 30 council seats in Navarre
, within Navarre Yes.
Aralar contested the 2008 General Elections
in the Basque Autonomous Community polling 2.67% of the total votes, 0.42% less than Aralar-Zutik coalition's result four years ago. In Navarre the party kept the Nafarroa Bai coalition, which obtained the 18.53% (+0.55) and one seat, still held by Barkos.
In the Basque elections of March 1, 2009, Aralar increased its presence in the Basque Parliament
with four seats and 6.04% of votes. The head of the parliamentary group is still Aintzane Ezenarro
.
Basque nationalism
Basque nationalism is a political movement advocating for either further political autonomy or, chiefly, full independence of the Basque Country in the wider sense...
socialist and separatist political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. The party is led by Patxi Zabaleta. It is opposed to the violent struggle of ETA
ETA
ETA , an acronym for Euskadi Ta Askatasuna is an armed Basque nationalist and separatist organization. The group was founded in 1959 and has since evolved from a group promoting traditional Basque culture to a paramilitary group with the goal of gaining independence for the Greater Basque Country...
.
Aralar was born in the 1990s from a critical tendency within Herri Batasuna (HB) and Euskal Herritarrok (EH), led by Patxi Zabaleta. The tendency had its main base in Navarre
Navarre
Navarre , officially the Chartered Community of Navarre is an autonomous community in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Country, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain and Aquitaine in France...
.
The breaking of ETA's truce in 2000 provoked Herri Batasuna's reformation into Batasuna
Batasuna
Batasuna was a Basque nationalist political party based mainly in Spain, where it was outlawed in 2003, after a court ruling declared proven that the party was financing ETA with public money. Batasuna is included in the "European Union list of terrorist persons and organizations" as a component...
, to have presence in all Euskal Herria. Following disagreements over the internal organization of Batasuna, Aralar broke away to form a separate political party.
In the May 2003 election for the Navarre Assembly, Aralar obtained 24,068 votes (8.02% of the valid votes) and four seats and in the same community obtained 4.76% of the valid votes in the municipal elections and 18 local councillors. In the Basque Autonomous Community it obtained 30 councillors and 1.51 % of the valid votes.
Aralar contested the Spanish general election, 2004 in the Basque Autonomous Community in coalition with Zutik
Zutik
Zutik is a political party in Basque Country, Spain. Zutik was formed in 1991 through the merger of the EMK and LKI . Within Zutik there is a current affiliated to the United Secretariat of the Fourth International. It has a branch in Navarre known as Batzarre.Zutik members have been candidates on...
but failed to win any seats, polling 3.09% of the valid votes. The party contested in Navarre
Navarra (Spanish Congress Electoral District)
Navarra is one of the 52 electoral districts used for the Spanish Congress of Deputies - the lower chamber of the Spanish Parliament, the Cortes Generales...
as part of the coalition Nafarroa Bai
Nafarroa Bai
Nafarroa Bai is a Navarrese coalition of both left and right wing Basque nationalist parties which was created for the 2004 Spanish General election....
(NaBai), together with Eusko Alkartasuna
Eusko Alkartasuna
Eusko Alkartasuna is a Basque nationalist political party operating in Spain and France. The Basque language name means Basque Solidarity and abbreviated as EA. The party describes itself as a Basque nationalist, democratic, popular, progressive and non-denominational party...
(EA), Batzarre
Batzarre
Batzarre is a political party in Navarre, Spain. It has a branch in the Basque Autonomous Community known as Zutik....
, the Basque Nationalist Party
Basque Nationalist Party
The Basque National Party is the largest and oldest Basque nationalist party. It is currently the largest political party in the Basque Autonomous Community also with a minor presence in Navarre and a marginal one in the French Basque Country...
(PNV) and independents, obtaining a seat for the independent Uxue Barkos
Uxue Barkos
Uxue Barkos Berruezo is a Spanish journalist and politician who currently represents the Basque coalition Nafarroa Bai, i.e. in euskera Yes to Navarre, in the Spanish Parliament....
and 18.04% of the whole of valid votes, which was the highest percentage and number of votes for a Basque nationalist list in Spanish General Elections in Navarre
Navarra (Spanish Congress Electoral District)
Navarra is one of the 52 electoral districts used for the Spanish Congress of Deputies - the lower chamber of the Spanish Parliament, the Cortes Generales...
.
In 2004 the youth wing of Aralar, Iratzarri, was founded.
In the Basque elections of April 17, 2005, Aralar entered the Basque Parliament
Basque Parliament
The Basque Parliament is the legislative body of the Basque Autonomous Community of Spain and the elected assembly to which the Basque Government is responsible....
with one seat and 2.33% of the votes. This seat was held by Aintzane Ezenarro
Aintzane Ezenarro
Aintzane Ezenarro Egurbide is a basque politician. She is the Aralar's spokeswoman in the Basque Parliament since Basque parliamentary election, 2005...
. In 2007 it won 4 local Assembly seats and 130 local council seats in the Basque Autonomous Community, in coalition with Ezker Batua, and 5 local Assembly seats and 30 council seats in Navarre
Navarre
Navarre , officially the Chartered Community of Navarre is an autonomous community in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Country, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain and Aquitaine in France...
, within Navarre Yes.
Aralar contested the 2008 General Elections
Spanish general election, 2008
Legislative elections for the Spanish Cortes Generales were held on March 9, 2008. The elections were for 350 seats in the Congress of Deputies, and the 208 directly elected seats in the upper house, the Senate, determining the Prime Minister of Spain...
in the Basque Autonomous Community polling 2.67% of the total votes, 0.42% less than Aralar-Zutik coalition's result four years ago. In Navarre the party kept the Nafarroa Bai coalition, which obtained the 18.53% (+0.55) and one seat, still held by Barkos.
In the Basque elections of March 1, 2009, Aralar increased its presence in the Basque Parliament
Basque Parliament
The Basque Parliament is the legislative body of the Basque Autonomous Community of Spain and the elected assembly to which the Basque Government is responsible....
with four seats and 6.04% of votes. The head of the parliamentary group is still Aintzane Ezenarro
Aintzane Ezenarro
Aintzane Ezenarro Egurbide is a basque politician. She is the Aralar's spokeswoman in the Basque Parliament since Basque parliamentary election, 2005...
.
External links
- Aralar's Official webpage (in Basque and Spanish)
- Iratzarri