Referendum Bill could pave way to Basque Freedom

A Basque Government referendum Bill was placed before the Basque Government today (29th May 2008), that could be the first step towards the Basque Country voting for independence from the Spanish state in 2010.

In a move that marks the beginning of what could possibly be the first
of several referendums on independence over the coming years in Western
Europe, including one in Scotland, the Basque Prime Minister, Juan
Jose Ibarretxe, presented the Bill to the Basque Parliament President
Izaskun Bilbao. The formal presentation took place before the Basque
Parliament in Gasteiz/Vitoria and the wording of the Bill is planned
to be debated in the Parliament on 27th June 2008 and no corrections
will be allowed. If agreed, the Bill will be put to popular vote on
October 25th 2008 and Ibarretxe has stated that he expects the Basque
Parliament to give the Bill their total support.

However, the Spanish Socialist Government in Madrid, headed by Spain's
Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, has said that it will
seek a court order to prevent the vote going ahead if the Bill is
approved on 27th June. Ibarretxe's decision to propose the Bill comes
after negotiations between Zapatero and Ibarretxe broke down over
the last couple of weeks, with Ibarretxe stating that the Spanish
PM did not want to negotiate with the Basque institutions. Ibarretxe
said in a statement:

"We want to have the right to decide and the right to live together
in peace."

A Referendum on independence is also planned for Scotland in 2010
and in Catalunya on 2014.

J B Moffatt
Director of Information
Celtic League

29/05/08


The Celtic League has branches in the six Celtic Countries. It works
to promote cooperation between these countries and campaigns on a
broad range of political, cultural and environmental matters. It highlights
human rights abuse, monitors all military activity and focuses on
socio-economic issues.

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