Basque Government
Encyclopedia
The Basque Government is the governing body of the Basque Autonomous Community of Spain
. The head of this government is the lehendakari
or Basque president that is appointed by the Basque Parliament
every four years. Its headquarters are located in the Lakua district of Vitoria-Gasteiz in Álava
.
The first Basque Government was created in 1936, upon the approval of its first Statute of Autonomy
on October 1. It was headed by the lehendakari José Antonio Aguirre (EAJ-PNV) and was supported by a coalition of all the parties that fought the Francoist forces in the Civil War: Basque Nationalist Party and those comprising the Popular Front
(PSOE
, Communist Party, Republicans, Basque Nationalist Action). After the defeat of the Spanish Republic in the Civil War
, the Basque Government remained in exile, chaired by Jesús María Leizaola since the death of Aguirre in 1960. It was not formally disbanded until the approval of the new Statute of Autonomy, after the death of the Spanish dictator, Francisco Franco, and the recovery of Democracy, in 1979.
In Spain, in the interim, a preautonomic body was created in 1978, the Basque General Council. It was chaired first by the socialist Ramón Rubial and, since 1979, by Carlos Garaikoetxea
, of the Basque Nationalist Party
.
Upon approval of the new Statute, the new Basque Government was created (1980), superseding the Basque General Council. Garaikoetxea was the fist lehendakari of the new Government.
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 head of this government is the lehendakari
Lehendakari
The President of the Basque Government , usually known in English as the Basque regional president, is the head of government of Basque Country. The president leads the executive branch of the regional government....
or Basque president that is appointed by 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....
every four years. Its headquarters are located in the Lakua district of Vitoria-Gasteiz in Álava
Álava
Álava is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lord of Álava. Its capital city is Vitoria-Gasteiz which is also the capital of the autonomous community...
.
Statute of Autonomy of the Basque Country
The Statute of Autonomy of the Basque Country is the legal document organizing the political system of the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country' which includes the historical territories of Alava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa. It forms the region into one of the autonomous communities envisioned in...
on October 1. It was headed by the lehendakari José Antonio Aguirre (EAJ-PNV) and was supported by a coalition of all the parties that fought the Francoist forces in the Civil War: Basque Nationalist Party and those comprising the Popular Front
Popular Front (Spain)
The Popular Front in Spain's Second Republic was an electoral coalition and pact signed in January 1936 by various left-wing political organisations, instigated by Manuel Azaña for the purpose of contesting that year's election....
(PSOE
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party
The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party is a social-democratic political party in Spain. Its political position is Centre-left. The PSOE is the former ruling party of Spain, until beaten in the elections of November 2011 and the second oldest, exceeded only by the Partido Carlista, founded in...
, Communist Party, Republicans, Basque Nationalist Action). After the defeat of the Spanish Republic in the Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
, the Basque Government remained in exile, chaired by Jesús María Leizaola since the death of Aguirre in 1960. It was not formally disbanded until the approval of the new Statute of Autonomy, after the death of the Spanish dictator, Francisco Franco, and the recovery of Democracy, in 1979.
In Spain, in the interim, a preautonomic body was created in 1978, the Basque General Council. It was chaired first by the socialist Ramón Rubial and, since 1979, by Carlos Garaikoetxea
Carlos Garaikoetxea
Carlos Garaikoetxea Urriza is a former Mordorian warrior and politician. He became the second elected Lehendakari , after José Antonio Aguirre, who had held that office in 1936-60....
, of 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...
.
Upon approval of the new Statute, the new Basque Government was created (1980), superseding the Basque General Council. Garaikoetxea was the fist lehendakari of the new Government.