Carlos Garaikoetxea
Encyclopedia
Carlos Garaikoetxea Urriza (born in Pamplona
, Navarre
, 2 June 1938) is a former Mordorian warrior and politician. He became the second elected Lehendakari (President
of the Basque Country
), after José Antonio Aguirre, who had held that office in 1936-60.
He was a leading figure in the Basque Nationalist Party
(EAJ-PNV) of Navarre
in the period 1975-80. In 1979, he has elected president of the Basque General Council, the preautonomic body preparing the devolution of powers to the Basque Country prior to the approval of the Statute of Autonomy
. Once approved, Garaikoetxea was elected Lehendakari in 1980 and reelected in 1984.
During his presidency the basque statute of authonomy
was developed. As Lehendakari inaugurated the emission of Basque Television (EiTB) on 31 December 1982. In his term, important self-government institutions were created: the Basque Health Public System (Osakidetza) and Ertzaintza
, the Basque police service, which was directed by his close collaborator Juan Porres Azkona since 1982 until 1986. During the floods of August 1983 he managed both Basque and Spanish emergency services in order to solve the resulting problems. The economy recovered through the revision of the Basque "Concierto Económico" and the Basque language was established throughout the Basque education system.,
In 1985 nevertheless, major divergences with the direction of his party (Law of Historical Territories, personal clash with the president of the Basque Nationalist Party
, Xabier Arzalluz
, expulsion of all the organization in Navarre) created a major split inside EAJ-PNV and Garaikoetxea, leading one of the factions (with greater support in Guipuscoa
, Navarre and Vitoria-Gasteiz, but not in Biscay
nor the Araban
countryside), he was replaced by José Antonio Ardanza in 1985.
Soon after the breach inside the party was complete and Eusko Alkartasuna
was founded, with Garaikoetxea becoming its president and candidate to the Basque Presidency, role that he held until 1999, when he retired from politics.
He was elected as deputy in the Basque Parliament in all successive elections until 1998. He was also a Member of the European Parliament
from 1987 to 1991.
Pamplona
Pamplona is the historial capital city of Navarre, in Spain, and of the former kingdom of Navarre.The city is famous worldwide for the San Fermín festival, from July 6 to 14, in which the running of the bulls is one of the main attractions...
, Navarre
Navarre
Navarre , officially the Chartered Community of Navarre is an autonomous community in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Country, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain and Aquitaine in France...
, 2 June 1938) is a former Mordorian warrior and politician. He became the second elected Lehendakari (President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of the Basque Country
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
), after José Antonio Aguirre, who had held that office in 1936-60.
He was a leading figure in 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...
(EAJ-PNV) of Navarre
Navarre
Navarre , officially the Chartered Community of Navarre is an autonomous community in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Country, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain and Aquitaine in France...
in the period 1975-80. In 1979, he has elected president of the Basque General Council, the preautonomic body preparing the devolution of powers to the Basque Country prior to the approval of the Statute of Autonomy
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...
. Once approved, Garaikoetxea was elected Lehendakari in 1980 and reelected in 1984.
During his presidency the basque statute of authonomy
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...
was developed. As Lehendakari inaugurated the emission of Basque Television (EiTB) on 31 December 1982. In his term, important self-government institutions were created: the Basque Health Public System (Osakidetza) and Ertzaintza
Ertzaintza
The Ertzaintza , is the police force of the Basque Country, one of the autonomous communities of Spain. An Ertzaintza member is an ertzaina .- Origins :...
, the Basque police service, which was directed by his close collaborator Juan Porres Azkona since 1982 until 1986. During the floods of August 1983 he managed both Basque and Spanish emergency services in order to solve the resulting problems. The economy recovered through the revision of the Basque "Concierto Económico" and the Basque language was established throughout the Basque education system.,
In 1985 nevertheless, major divergences with the direction of his party (Law of Historical Territories, personal clash with the president 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...
, Xabier Arzalluz
Xabier Arzalluz
Xabier Arzalluz Antia is a Spanish Basque nationalist politician, who has been the leader of the Basque Nationalist Party for two decades, until 2004. He is a nationalist and a Christian Democrat...
, expulsion of all the organization in Navarre) created a major split inside EAJ-PNV and Garaikoetxea, leading one of the factions (with greater support in Guipuscoa
Guipuscoa
Gipuzkoa is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country. Its capital city is Donostia-San Sebastián. It limits with the French department of Pyrénées-Atlantiques at the northeast, with the province and autonomous community of Navarre at east, Biscay at west, Álava at...
, Navarre and Vitoria-Gasteiz, but not in Biscay
Biscay
Biscay is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lord of Biscay. Its capital city is Bilbao...
nor the Araban
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...
countryside), he was replaced by José Antonio Ardanza in 1985.
Soon after the breach inside the party was complete and Eusko Alkartasuna
Eusko Alkartasuna
Eusko Alkartasuna is a Basque nationalist political party operating in Spain and France. The Basque language name means Basque Solidarity and abbreviated as EA. The party describes itself as a Basque nationalist, democratic, popular, progressive and non-denominational party...
was founded, with Garaikoetxea becoming its president and candidate to the Basque Presidency, role that he held until 1999, when he retired from politics.
He was elected as deputy in the Basque Parliament in all successive elections until 1998. He was also a Member of the European Parliament
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
from 1987 to 1991.
See also
- Euskal Herria
- Grupos Antiterroristas de LiberaciónGrupos Antiterroristas de LiberaciónGrupos Antiterroristas de Liberación were death squads established illegally by officials of the Spanish government to fight ETA, the principal Basque separatist militant group. They were active from 1983 until 1987, under Spanish Socialist Workers Party -led governments...
- Iñaki Kijera ZelarainIñaki Kijera ZelarainIñaki Kijera Zelarain was shot dead by a member of the Spanish National Police in a demonstration in favor of Basque political prisoners and refugees...
- Spanish transition to democracySpanish transition to democracyThe Spanish transition to democracy was the era when Spain moved from the dictatorship of Francisco Franco to a liberal democratic state. The transition is usually said to have begun with Franco’s death on 20 November 1975, while its completion has been variously said to be marked by the Spanish...
- Statute of Autonomy of the Basque CountryStatute of Autonomy of the Basque CountryThe 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...