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Basques set for 'historic' change Basques set for landmark handover
(about 5 hours later)
The Basque region of Spain is set to swear-in its first non-nationalist government in three decades. The Basque region of Spain is set to swear in its first non-nationalist government in three decades.
The Socialist Party (PSE) and Popular Party (PP) - rivals at national level - agreed last week to govern together. The Socialist Party (PSE) and the centre-right Popular Party (PP) agreed last week to govern together.
The PSE's Patxi Lopez is set to head the Basque government. The PP's Inaki Oyarzabal said it was a "historic day" opening a "new stage" for the region. The deal came after Basque nationalists failed to win an absolute majority in an election in March. The PSE's Patxi Lopez will head the new government.
The Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) lost office after failing to win an absolute majority in an election last month. Security in the Basque capital Vitoria is tight, as Eta separatists have threatened the incoming government.
This enabled the PSE, which came second, and the conservative PP to lay aside their disagreements and put together an informal coalition. The militant group has described Mr Lopez as a "priority target".
Their deal will mean that the Basque region will be run by a government which fully supports it remaining part of Spain for the first time since the 1970s. The BBC's Steve Kingstone in Madrid says the latest elections were historic.
Analysts say the struggle against militant separatist group Eta is a key point in the agreement between the parties. For three decades following the restoration of democracy in Spain in the 1970s, Basque voters always returned governments led by the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV).
But the party's defeat in March enabled the PSE, which came second, and the PP to lay aside their disagreements at national level.
Their deal will mean that the Basque region will be run by a government which fully supports it remaining part of Spain for the first time in 30 years.
Analysts say the struggle against Eta is a key point in the agreement between the parties.
The incoming government has pledged to give more resources to the police to tackle the group, which has been blamed for the deaths of more than 820 people during its 40-year independence campaign.The incoming government has pledged to give more resources to the police to tackle the group, which has been blamed for the deaths of more than 820 people during its 40-year independence campaign.
The parties have also said they will put the Spanish and Basque languages on an equal footing to address what some say is discrimination against non-Basque speakers.The parties have also said they will put the Spanish and Basque languages on an equal footing to address what some say is discrimination against non-Basque speakers.