Ibarretxe and Egunkaria

Some reactions to the closing of the Euskera newspaper Egunkaria, this one from Ibarretxe, the Prime Minister of the Basque Autonomous Community.

Here you have it:

Ibarretxe says that he does not believe in a democracy that wants to bring Martin Ugalde to prison

Answering to a question made by Partido Popular, he said that his government will help a new Basque newspaper

The closing of Euskaldunon Egunkaria was one of the main issues yesterday, at the meeting that the Basque Parliament held in Vitoria. Partido Popular asked to the Basque president Juan Jose Ibarretxe if there is a plan to continue helping Egunero.

Ibarretxe said that "it is our intention to answer to this political and judicial nonsense, and we will do that in a democratic way". He added that Partido Popular does not believe in law, only believes in its own laws. Ibarretxe put as an example the decision of Aznar of supporting the war.

The Basque president said also that he does not believe in the same democracy Partido Popular does. "I am not a part of a democracy that wants to bring Martin Ugalde, one of the founders of Egunkaria- to jail", he said.

Ibarretxe also reminded that his government was not the only one that helped Euskaldunon Egunkaria with money. He showed how, for example, the city council of Vitoria and of the deputation of Alava placed ads in Egunkaria. Both are governed by Partido Popular.

Carlos Urquijo, from Partido Popular, said that the fact that the Basque government helps Egunero shows that "we are in a democratic involution". He added that "it is a shame" that the Basque government has gave Egunkaria "more than six million euros" since 1994.

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