EH Bildu, a coalition with separatist left-wing ideologies, marked a significant milestone in the Basque regional elections held on Sunday.
With nearly 95 percent of the ballots counted, EH Bildu secured 27 seats, a notable increase of six seats compared to its performance in the previous 2020 elections, where it achieved a record-breaking outcome of 21 seats. Established in 2012, EH Bildu has progressively gained momentum in advocating for the independence of the northern Spanish region.
Despite this success, EH Bildu will remain in the opposition as it became evident late on Sunday that the governing coalition led by the centrist Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) and the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) under Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez would continue to hold power.
With the majority of votes tallied, the PNV appeared poised to secure 27 seats, coupled with the PSOE's 12 seats, ensuring the ruling coalition an absolute majority of 39 out of the 75 seats in the Vitoria parliament, as confirmed by the electoral authorities. However, the coalition is projected to lose two seats compared to the previous election.
Similar to EH Bildu's aspirations, which includes former members of the now-defunct terrorist group ETA, the PNV also advocates for increased self-determination for the region from the central government in Madrid but adopts a less radical stance.
Iñigo Urkullu, who has held the presidency of the Basque government since 2012, did not stand as the leading candidate this time. His party colleague, Imanol Pradales, is likely to succeed him as the head of government.
The clandestine organization "Euskadi Ta Askatasuna" (ETA), meaning "Basque Country and Freedom," was established in 1959. It waged a decades-long campaign for an independent Basque Country, carrying out approximately 3,000 attacks resulting in 857 deaths and 2,600 injuries.
Having renounced its armed struggle in 2011, ETA formally announced its dissolution in 2018.
Today, the Basque Country stands as one of Spain's most prosperous autonomous communities.
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