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Pro-independence parties expected to win Basque country elections in Spain Pro-independence parties expected to win Basque country elections in Spain
(35 minutes later)
Separatist tensions within the European Union looked set to grow with pro-independence parties expected to win regional elections held on Sunday in Spain's northern Basque country.Separatist tensions within the European Union looked set to grow with pro-independence parties expected to win regional elections held on Sunday in Spain's northern Basque country.
Polls show a surge of support for a new separatist coalition, EH Bildu, following a decision last year by the armed separatist group Eta to end a 40-year campaign of terrorism. Polls show a surge of support for a separatist coalition, EH Bildu, formed after a decision last year by the armed separatist group Eta to end a 40-year campaign of terrorism.
The coalition brings together peaceful separatists with former members of Eta's political wing who are no longer banned from parliamentary politics. Polls predict it could win a quarter of the vote and become the region's second largest political party.The coalition brings together peaceful separatists with former members of Eta's political wing who are no longer banned from parliamentary politics. Polls predict it could win a quarter of the vote and become the region's second largest political party.
The moderate Basque Nationalist party (PNV), which backs a gradual march towards independence, is expected to lose some seats in the regional assembly to EH Bildu but looks set to remain the most-voted-for party. The moderate Basque Nationalist party (PNV), which backs a gradual march towards independence, is expected to lose some seats in the regional assembly to EH Bildu but looks set to take most votes.
PNV looks set to form a minority government, possibly supported by EH Bildu, though its leader, Iñigo Urkullu, has refused to say exactly how he plans to govern.PNV looks set to form a minority government, possibly supported by EH Bildu, though its leader, Iñigo Urkullu, has refused to say exactly how he plans to govern.
The two pro-independence parties were jointly expected to take around 60% of the vote, allowing them to eject the current socialist regional government. The two pro-independence parties were jointly expected to take about 60% of the vote, allowing them to eject the current socialist regional government.
Although he has pledged to make the economy his first priority, Urkullu is widely expected to follow the example of the Catalan regional president, Artur Mas, and call some kind of referendum on independence over the coming four years. Although he has pledged to make the economy his priority, Urkullu is widely expected to follow the example of the Catalan regional president, Artur Mas, and call some kind of referendum on independence over the coming four years.
"The Spanish state has become a brake on the development of the Basque country," the PNV states in its manifesto."The Spanish state has become a brake on the development of the Basque country," the PNV states in its manifesto.
The Basque election result will add to the problems of the Spanish prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, whose conservative People's party (PP) government has already vowed to block any independence referendums called by regional governments.The Basque election result will add to the problems of the Spanish prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, whose conservative People's party (PP) government has already vowed to block any independence referendums called by regional governments.
Rajoy's party was expected to hold on to the regional government of north-western Galicia, where elections were also being held on Sunday.Rajoy's party was expected to hold on to the regional government of north-western Galicia, where elections were also being held on Sunday.
The wealthy and populous north-eastern Spanish region of Catalonia goes to the polls next month as support for independence there rises above 50% in opinion polls.The wealthy and populous north-eastern Spanish region of Catalonia goes to the polls next month as support for independence there rises above 50% in opinion polls.
Mas, whose nationalist Convergence and Union (CiU) coalition looks set to increase its seats in the regional parliament, has pledged to call a referendum despite Rajoy's threat to declare it illegal. Mas, whose nationalist Convergence and Union (CiU) coalition looks set to increase its seats in the regional parliament, has pledged to call a referendum despite Rajoy's threat to declare the poll illegal.
Catalan and Basque separatists are watching events in Scotland, hoping that a yes vote at an independence referendum there in 2014 would force the EU to come up with a formula allowing for member states to split up.Catalan and Basque separatists are watching events in Scotland, hoping that a yes vote at an independence referendum there in 2014 would force the EU to come up with a formula allowing for member states to split up.
Leaders from EH Bildu and the Catalan Republican Left (ERC) separatist party were in Scotland last week at the Scottish Nationalist party conference.Leaders from EH Bildu and the Catalan Republican Left (ERC) separatist party were in Scotland last week at the Scottish Nationalist party conference.
The ERC secretary general, Marta Rovira, and Pello Urizar of the Eusko Alkartasuna party, which forms part of EH Bildu, were guests at a fringe meeting organised by the European Free Alliance, which brings together separatist groups from within the EU.The ERC secretary general, Marta Rovira, and Pello Urizar of the Eusko Alkartasuna party, which forms part of EH Bildu, were guests at a fringe meeting organised by the European Free Alliance, which brings together separatist groups from within the EU.
Both the Scottish National party and the Welsh nationalists Plaid Cymru are promoting the Catalan and Basque separatist movements within the UK, hoping to capitalise on their recent electoral successes and mass demonstrations. Both the Scottish National party and the Welsh nationalists, Plaid Cymru, are promoting the Catalan and Basque separatist movements within the UK, hoping to capitalise on their recent electoral successes and mass demonstrations.
A recent Catalan independence march attracted more than 600,000 people, dwarfing the last pro-Scottish independence march in Edinburgh, which saw 7,000 march. A recent Catalan independence march attracted more than 600,000 people, dwarfing the last pro-Scottish independence march in Edinburgh, which drew 7,000.
Addressing a capacity audience, Ian Hudghton, one of Scotland's two SNP MEPs and party president, said all four parties shared a common agenda, to promote independence movements across the EU. "I can't wait until we have a normal, independent country," he said.Addressing a capacity audience, Ian Hudghton, one of Scotland's two SNP MEPs and party president, said all four parties shared a common agenda, to promote independence movements across the EU. "I can't wait until we have a normal, independent country," he said.
"This is not a race and it's not a competition; we are all working together in solidarity with one another," said the Plaid Cymru leader Jill Evans. "It is a process of normalisation: each of our nations, in its own distinctive way, seeking normality in the wider European family of nations." "This is not a race and it's not a competition; we are all working together in solidarity with one another," said the Plaid Cymru leader, Jill Evans. "It is a process of normalisation: each of our nations, in its own distinctive way, seeking normality in the wider European family of nations."