Origin
Even though the idea for a Basque national political party separate from both Herri Batasuna and the Partido Nacionalista Vasco (PNV, Basque: Euzko Alderdi-Jeltzalea, "Basque Nationalist Party") emerged in 1986, it was not until 1987 that the first congress of the party was held in Pamplona-Iruña 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 (Basque President) Garaikoetxea (who went to form EA) and the PNV leader Xabier Arzalluz.
- The configuration of the Basque Country: A strong Basque government and weak provinces (EA) / Strong provinces (PNV).
- social-democratic (EA) / Christian-democratic (PNV)
The split was particularly bitter given that the new party was headed by the lehendakari himself. Every local organization had to vote on whether to go to EA or remain in PNV. Many PNV political bars (batzoki, "meeting place") became alkartetxe ("mutual house"). Ramón Doral, an ertzain (Basque policeman) closely connected to PNV was convicted of wiretapping EA leaders for PNV.
Read more about this topic: Eusko Alkartasuna
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