Three Lehendakaris

EITb brings to us a note regarding a radio show that featured three Basque politicians that have held the job of lehendakari (minister).

Here you have it:

Politics

Over 25 years

Basque PM to make referendum even if no agreement with Zapatero

04/10/2008

Juan José Ibarretxe made that statement in a radio program, in which the three Basque premiers gathered around a table to express their opinions about how Basques have changed over 25 years.

The three Basque Prime Ministers since the death of the Spanish dictator Francisco Franco gathered around a table in a program of the Basque public radio station. Carlos Garaikoetxea, José Antonio Ardanza and Juan José Ibarretxe analyzed how the Basques have changed over 25 years. The main themes were peace, political normalization and the ways to achieve those two points.

The present Basque premier Juan José Ibarretxe reiterated his political offer and criticized those who describe it as “adventure”. “I think time to face the problem has already arrived. We have to make a step forward and break the deadlock in the political situation”, he said.

Ibarretxe pointed out he is ready to make an agreement with the Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero to know whether he is willing to negotiate or not.

The Basque PM repeated he will fulfil his plan for referendum even if the Spanish PM does not support him.

Ardanza and Garaikoetxea showed they have opposite versions about the necessity to reach an agreement between all the political parties in the Basque Country.

The Basque problem is not a “Basque-Spain” problem; there is a main problem we have not solved yet, and that is that we are not able to agree with each other, because all the Basques are not nationalists. If we are not able to reach an agreement, it will be very difficult to face the problem”, Ardanza said.

Garaikoetxea answered “the Basques have a political problem with Spain. The fact that there is not any agreement between nationalists is the responsibility of Basque armed group ETA”.

That last sentence by Garaikoetxea sums up all what is wrong with the PNV politicians, they use the same lame excuses put forward by Madrid in order to stall a political process aimed at bringing freedom and peace to the Basque people.

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