Who Are the Basqueserpartists?
Basqueserpartists are people who want the Basque Country to be its own free country. They do not want to stay part of Spain or France.
The Basque Country is a special area. It sits in the north of Spain and a small part in the south of France. The people call themselves Basques. They speak Basque (Euskara), which is a very old language. It is not like Spanish or French at all.
Some Basques just want more control over their own area. This is called autonomy. Others want full freedom—no more Spain or France. That is separatism.
The word “Basqueserpartists” means Basque separatists. The big goal for many is to make one big country called Euskal Herria. It would join all Basque areas together.
This idea has a long story. It mixes pride in culture with anger from hard times in the past.
The Basque People Have a Very Old Story
Basques are one of the oldest groups in Europe. Experts think they lived there before many other people came.
Their language, Euskara, is special. It does not come from Latin like Spanish or French. It stood strong for thousands of years.
Long ago, Basques had their own rules and kings. One old kingdom was Navarre. Over time, Spain and France took control.
In the 1800s, Spain took away special Basque rights called “fueros.” These rights let Basques make many of their own laws. Losing them made people upset.
A man named Sabino Arana saw this. In 1895, he started the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV). He wanted Basques to have pride in their culture, language, and home. The PNV asked for self-rule inside Spain. It was peaceful.
Hard Times Under a Dictator
In the 1930s, Spain had a big war—the Spanish Civil War. General Franco won and became dictator until 1975.
Franco hated differences. He banned the Basque language in schools and on TV. He stopped Basque flags, dances, and names. Police arrested or hurt people who spoke Basque or asked for rights.
In 1937, Franco’s planes bombed the town of Guernica. Many died. This hurt Basques a lot. It made some think they needed strong action for freedom.
How ETA Started and Fought
In 1959, some young people left the PNV. They said peaceful ways were too slow. They made a group called ETA. The name means “Basque Homeland and Liberty.”
At first, ETA did small protests. Then it turned to guns and bombs.
The first killing was in 1968. In 1973, they killed a top Spanish leader with a car bomb. This shocked everyone.
ETA wanted a free socialist Basque country. It included parts of Spain and France. From 1968 to 2011, ETA attacks killed more than 850 people. Many more got hurt. They did kidnappings too.
Spain, Europe, and the US called ETA a terrorist group. Most people in the world said the violence was wrong.
Both Sides Did Bad Things
The Spanish government fought back hard. In the 1980s, secret groups called GAL killed some ETA people. This was against the law. It was called the “dirty war.”
Violence hurt normal families on both sides. Many Basques wanted peace, not more fighting.
Spain Changed and Gave More Freedom
Franco died in 1975. Spain became a free country with elections.
In 1978, a new law gave the Basque area big self-rule. They got their own parliament, police, schools, taxes, and health care.
The Basque Country is now one of the richest parts of Spain. People have good jobs and high living standards.
Many Basques liked this change. The PNV party led the government for years. They asked for more rights but stayed inside Spain.
ETA did not stop. They said self-rule was not enough. They wanted full freedom.
The Long End of Violence
In the 2000s, police caught many ETA leaders. Support for fighting went down.
In 2011, ETA said no more attacks forever. In 2017, they gave up all guns. In 2018, ETA said it was finished—no more group.
This brought real peace. No more bombs or fear from ETA.
What Happens Now in 2026?
Today, the Basque independence movement is only through votes and talks—no guns.
Two big parties lead it:
- PNV (Basque Nationalist Party): It wants more self-rule inside Spain. It is center-right. It led the government for many years.
- EH Bildu: It is left-wing. It comes from old pro-independence groups. Some people link it to ETA’s past, but it says no to violence now. It grew strong after peace came.
In April 2024 elections for the Basque parliament:
- PNV got 27 seats.
- EH Bildu also got 27 seats.
- They tied! Socialists got 12 seats.
This was big news. EH Bildu got more votes than before.
Polls in late 2024 and 2025 show:
- About 19% to 22% want full independence.
- About 40–43% say no.
- Many others (around 33%) say “it depends.”
Support for full freedom is low now. It was higher years ago. Most Basques like their current self-rule. They do not want big changes that could cause problems.
Main Parties and What They Want
Here is a simple list of key parties today:
- PNV: More autonomy, keep good ties with Spain, focus on economy and culture.
- EH Bildu: More steps to sovereignty, social help like housing and jobs, talks about “right to decide.”
- PSE (Socialists): Against full independence, want to stay in Spain.
- PP and others: Strong against separation.
Pro-independence or pro-more-rule parties often get many seats. But full independence stays a small idea.
Why Do Some Still Want Independence?
Basques love their special things:
- The language Euskara is official now. Kids learn it in school. It almost died under Franco but came back strong.
- Basque culture has old sports like pelota, special food, and festivals.
- Many feel “Basque first” in their hearts.
Some think Spain still controls too much money or laws. They want even more power.
But most say: “We are okay now. We have good lives. No need for big fights.”
The Basque area is strong. It has factories, banks, and tourism. People think it could live alone, but most do not want to try.
Key Facts to Know
Here are important simple facts:
- Basque Country (in Spain) has about 2.2 million people.
- French Basque part has about 300,000—less support for independence there.
- ETA killed over 850 people from 1968 to 2011.
- ETA ended fully in 2018.
- Basque people collect their own taxes and use them locally—this helps make the area rich.
- In 2024 elections, nationalist parties (PNV + EH Bildu) got most seats.
- Support for independence: Around 19–22% in recent polls (2024–2025).
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Looking to the Future
The Basque story shows pride in who you are. It shows pain from old violence. And it shows peace can come after hard years.
Today, Basques talk in elections. They protect their language and ways. They enjoy high life quality.
Few want to go back to guns. Most want calm talks if changes come.
This movement teaches about keeping culture alive while living together in peace. The Basque Country stays special—proud, strong, and mostly happy with its place in Spain.
About the Author
Mary Correa is a content writer with 9 years of experience. She loves writing about luxury villas and travel. Her articles are easy to read and full of exciting ideas. Mary helps readers discover amazing places to visit and stay. When she’s not writing, she enjoys exploring new destinations.
