Politics

Laura Mintegi, a writer and professor at the Public University of the Basque Country will be the candidate to the presidency of the Basque Autonomous Community of the pro-independence nationalist left-wing coalition party Euskal Herria Bildu (EHBildu).

The brand-new party, a coalition of Basque parties Eusko Alkartasuna, Alternatiba, Aralar and the Abertzale Left, and the successor of a similar coalition under the name of Amaiur, will look to defeat the Basque Nationalist Party PNV in the Basque vote, to be held not later than March 2012.

Speaking during the presentation of the pro-independence coalition in Bilbao on Tuesday morning, Mintegi mentioned three principles as the pillars upon which the new party is based: "political normalization, right to decide and social justice". Prominent politicians at the presentation of the new coalition included Abertzale left's Rufi Etxeberria, Pernando Barrena and Joseba Permach; Eusko Alkertazuna's Peio Urizar and Unai Ziarreta; Aralar's Dani Maeztu; and Alternatiba's Oskar Matute.

Mintegi also called for the right to decide of the Basques and had words in favor of independence, of which she said "is not only a reasonable political exercise but a survival exercise to save from Spain's shipwreck".

Bildu

A coalition under the name of Bildu formed by some of the parties in EH Bildu surged in the Basque Country local elections in 2011. Bildu beat Spain's two largest parties PP and PSOE, coming second only to PNV in elections that left the Socialists without a single important mayor's office.

In Spain's general election that took place last November 20th, left-wing party Aralar joined Bildu to form Amaiur. It made a strong showing winning seven seats in the lower house, one more than the long-established Basque Nationalist Party, a strong enough representation to be able to present bills and have a voice in weekly debates with the prime minister.