Carlos Garaikoetxea Urriza (born 2 June 1938) is a former politician from the Spanish Basque Country. He became the second elected ''Lehendakari'' (

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university * President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ...

of the

Basque Autonomous Community The Basque Country (; eu, Euskadi ; es, País Vasco ), also called Basque Autonomous Community ( eu, Euskal Autonomia Erkidegoa, links=no, EAE; es, Comunidad Autónoma del País Vasco, links=no, CAPV), is an autonomous community of Spain. It ...

), after José Antonio Aguirre, who had held that office in 1936-60.

Early life

He was a leading figure in the Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ-PNV) of Navarre in the period 1975-80. In 1979, he was elected president of the Basque General Council, the provisional body preparing the devolution of powers to the Basque Country prior to the approval of the Statute of Autonomy. Once approved, Garaikoetxea was elected ''Lehendakari'' in 1980 and reelected in 1984. During his presidency the Basque Statute of Autonomy was developed. As ''Lehendakari'', Garaikoetxea inaugurated the radio-television public broadcast service EiTB on 31 December 1982. During his term, important self-government institutions were created: the Basque Public Health System ('' Osakidetza'') and the ''

Ertzaintza The (, en, Public Guard or ''People's Guard''), is the autonomous police force for the Basque Country, largely replacing the Spanish Policía Nacional (National Police) and Guardia Civil (Civil Guard). An Ertzaintza member is called an ''e ...

'', the Basque police service, which was directed by his close collaborator Juan Porres Azkona from 1982 until 1986. During the floods of August 1983, he managed both Basque and Spanish emergency services in order to solve the resulting problems. The economy recovered through the revision of the Basque "Concierto Económico" and the Basque language was established throughout the Basque education system. In 1985 nevertheless, major divergences with the direction of his party (Law of Historical Territories, personal clash with the president of the Basque Nationalist Party, Xabier Arzalluz, expulsion of all the organization in Navarre) created a major split within EAJ-PNV and Garaikoetxea, leading one of the factions (with greater support in

Gipuzkoa Gipuzkoa (, , ; es, Guipúzcoa ; french: Guipuscoa) is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the autonomous community of the Basque Country. Its capital city is Donostia-San Sebastián. Gipuzkoa shares borders with the French depa ...

, Navarre and

Vitoria-Gasteiz Vitoria-Gasteiz (; ), also alternatively spelled as Vittoria in old English-language sources, is the seat of government and the capital city of the Basque Country and of the province of Álava in northern Spain. It holds the autonomous community' ...

, but not in

Biscay Biscay (; eu, Bizkaia ; es, Vizcaya ) is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lordship of Biscay, lying on the south shore of the eponymous bay. The capital and largest city is Bilbao. B ...

nor the

Araban Araban ( ku, Qale) is a district and town of Gaziantep Province of Turkey. The population is 9,863 as of 2010. History The city was historically known as Raban. In October/November 958, the Byzantine Empire led by John Tzimiskes and Basil Lekape ...

countryside), he was replaced by

José Antonio Ardanza José Antonio Ardanza Garro (born 10 June 1941) is a former Spanish politician that became the second elected ''Lehendakari'' (President of the Basque Autonomous Community, Spain after the approval of the Statute of Autonomy. He was in office b ...

in 1985. Soon after, the breach inside the party was complete and

Eusko Alkartasuna Eusko Alkartasuna (; en, Basque Solidarity; es, Solidaridad Vasca; french: Solidarité basque) is a Basque nationalist and social-democratic political party operating in Spain and France. The Basque language name means ''Basque Solidarity'' an ...

was founded, with Garaikoetxea becoming its president and candidate to the Basque Presidency, a role that he held until 1999, when he retired from politics. He was elected as deputy in the Basque Parliament in all successive elections until 1998. He was also a

Member of the European Parliament A Member of the European Parliament (MEP) is a person who has been elected to serve as a popular representative in the European Parliament. When the European Parliament (then known as the Common Assembly of the ECSC) first met in 1952, its ...

from 1987 to 1991.

References

External links

* 1938 births Basque history Basque Nationalist Party MEPs Basque politics Eusko Alkartasuna Party politicians Leaders of political parties in Spain Living people Members of the 1st Basque Parliament Members of the 2nd Basque Parliament Members of the 3rd Basque Parliament Members of the 4th Basque Parliament Members of the 5th Basque Parliament Members of the 6th Basque Parliament MEPs for Spain 1987–1989 MEPs for Spain 1989–1994 People from Pamplona Presidents of the Basque Government Politicians from Navarre University of Deusto alumni {{BasqueCountry-politician-stub

Early life

See also

References

External links