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 the subtitle "Euskal Sozialdemokrazia", literally translated as "Basque social democracy".

The party's logo has "EA" in white on a half-red, half-green oak leaf. 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 support the creation of an independent Euskal Herria, but see it rather as achievable through the project of the European Union, as a union of peoples, a federation of nations, not states.

Origin

Even though the idea for a Basque national political party separate from both Herri Batasuna and the Euzko Alderdi-Jeltzalea / Partido Nacionalista Vasco emerged in 1986, it was not until 1987 that the first congress of the party was held in Pamplona-Iruña (Pamplona) in 1987. Carlos Garaikoetxea was then elected as the party's first president.

The split from the PNV 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-wing politics (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 closely connected to PNV was condemned on wiretapping of EA leaders for PNV.

Name

When dissident members of the Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ-PNV) reached the conclusion that they needed to form a new party, they talked about taking the name of Eusko Abertzaleak–Nacionalistas Vascos (Basque Nationalists), but that name was registered by someone else before they could do so. Deprived of that choice, EA founders, presumably sought another name reminiscent of EAJ, and of the largest trade union of the Basque Country Eusko Langileen Alkartasuna.

The Standard Basque for "solidarity" is elkartasun. Alkartasun is a Biscayne form. At the time of foundation, "EE" was used by Euskadiko Ezkerra; this alternate form of the word was used so as not to have two parties with the same initials.

Recent years

As time passed, the bitterness caused by the PNV split has decreased. Since 1991, EA has participated in several Basque governments, including the current one (as of 2004) 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. Eusko Alkartasuna has coaligated with PNV for several elections, and with Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) for elections to European Parliament.

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

The party is currently headed by Begoña Errazti .

EA is calling to vote No to the European Constitution proposal in the referenda to be held in Spain and France in 2005.

External links

• official website of Eusko Alkartasuna (contains an English-language section)
• Gazte Abertzaleak or young patriots, the Eusko Alkartasuna youth group (only in Basque and Spanish)