Basque nationalists set up showdown with Madrid

Rival Basque nationalist groups set aside their differences yesterday to push a controversial bill through the regional parliament making increased independence for the region a real possibility - and a showdown with Madrid almost inevitable.

The 75-seat Basque parliament approved the Ibarretxe plan by the narrowest of margins after a last minute U-turn by the separatists. The plan, on which nationalists now hope to hold a referendum in the Basque region, proposes a model of free association for the Basque nation within the Spanish state.

Both Spain's main political parties oppose the plan because they say it runs counter to the country's constitution.

At the beginning of the day the tripartite coalition led by the moderate Basque nationalists was two votes short of the outright majority it required to pass the bill. With the socialists and the People's party united for once in their opposition to the plans, the result hinged on the votes of the separatist group.


Guardian