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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Basques back non-nationalist rule | Basques back non-nationalist rule |
| (6 days later) | |
| The parliament in the Basque region of Spain has voted in its first non-nationalist government in 30 years. | The parliament in the Basque region of Spain has voted in its first non-nationalist government in 30 years. |
| The Basque Socialist Party (PSOE) and the centre-right Popular Party (PP) agreed last month to govern together. | The Basque Socialist Party (PSOE) and the centre-right Popular Party (PP) agreed last month to govern together. |
| The new coalition will turn its back on demands for sovereignty, focusing instead on security and the economy. | The new coalition will turn its back on demands for sovereignty, focusing instead on security and the economy. |
| Security in the Basque capital Vitoria is tight. Eta militants have described new Socialist parliamentary leader Patxi Lopez as a "priority target". | Security in the Basque capital Vitoria is tight. Eta militants have described new Socialist parliamentary leader Patxi Lopez as a "priority target". |
| Eta earlier branded the regional parliament election "undemocratic" after radical separatist parties were excluded. | Eta earlier branded the regional parliament election "undemocratic" after radical separatist parties were excluded. |
| An alleged senior Eta member arrested in France last month is said to have been planning a bomb attack to coincide with the handover of power. | An alleged senior Eta member arrested in France last month is said to have been planning a bomb attack to coincide with the handover of power. |
| 'Real concerns' | 'Real concerns' |
| The PSOE-PP coalition was formed after the Basque Nationalists failed to win an outright majority in March's election. | The PSOE-PP coalition was formed after the Basque Nationalists failed to win an outright majority in March's election. |
| In an evening vote, the parliament confirmed the new coalition, electing Mr Lopez to a four-year term as its head by 39 votes to 35. | In an evening vote, the parliament confirmed the new coalition, electing Mr Lopez to a four-year term as its head by 39 votes to 35. |
| The new administration will not concern itself with talk of Basque sovereignty or of renegotiating constitutional ties with Madrid, correspondents say. | The new administration will not concern itself with talk of Basque sovereignty or of renegotiating constitutional ties with Madrid, correspondents say. |
| Addressing the Basque parliament earlier in the day, Mr Lopez promised a "new political era" if he was elected Lehendakari, or president of the regional government. | Addressing the Basque parliament earlier in the day, Mr Lopez promised a "new political era" if he was elected Lehendakari, or president of the regional government. |
| The PSOE leader's said his first priority was to "put an end to the terrorism of Eta" and then to address other "real concerns" of voters, notably the economy. | The PSOE leader's said his first priority was to "put an end to the terrorism of Eta" and then to address other "real concerns" of voters, notably the economy. |
| FROM BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service | FROM BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service |
| "We are closer to the end of Eta, but we have not arrived at that point yet," he said in a reference to the recent arrest of Jurdan Martitegi, believed to be the group's latest military leader. | "We are closer to the end of Eta, but we have not arrived at that point yet," he said in a reference to the recent arrest of Jurdan Martitegi, believed to be the group's latest military leader. |
| Mr Lopez spoke in Basque as well as Spanish, promising respect for different traditions and cultures. | Mr Lopez spoke in Basque as well as Spanish, promising respect for different traditions and cultures. |
| "I am not going to govern just for some but for all," he said. | "I am not going to govern just for some but for all," he said. |
| But the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV), which won the election but fell short of an absolute majority, portrays Mr Lopez as a puppet of Spain's Socialist government in Madrid, the BBC's Steve Kingstone in Madrid reports. | But the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV), which won the election but fell short of an absolute majority, portrays Mr Lopez as a puppet of Spain's Socialist government in Madrid, the BBC's Steve Kingstone in Madrid reports. |
| They say his policies will erode Basque identity, our correspondent adds. | They say his policies will erode Basque identity, our correspondent adds. |
| The new PSOE-PP coalition unequivocally supports the Basque region remaining part of Spain, reversing almost 30 years of nationalist tradition. | The new PSOE-PP coalition unequivocally supports the Basque region remaining part of Spain, reversing almost 30 years of nationalist tradition. |
| It has also pledged to give more resources to the police to tackle Eta, which has been blamed for the deaths of more than 820 people during its 40-year independence campaign. | It has also pledged to give more resources to the police to tackle Eta, which has been blamed for the deaths of more than 820 people during its 40-year independence campaign. |
| The Spanish and Basque languages are also set to be put on an equal footing to address what some say is discrimination against non-Basque speakers. | The Spanish and Basque languages are also set to be put on an equal footing to address what some say is discrimination against non-Basque speakers. |