Spain: Zapatero continues Aznar’s anti-democratic measures in regions

[Egalitarian Zetetic]

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/may2004/basq-m28.shtml


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When March’s general election swept the right-wing Popular Party (PP) government of Jose Maria Aznar from power, the incoming social democratic government of Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero was given a cautious welcome by nationalist and regionalist parties in Spain’s 17 autonomous regions.

One of his first moves after the PSOE (Socialist Workers Party of Spain) took office, for example, was to telephone Basque lehendakari (regional premier) Juan Jose Ibarretxe to resume political relations. Ibarretxe had not spoken to Aznar for two years. Zapatero has also agreed that parliament should discuss the regions annually (there has not been such a debate since 1997). Zapatero has, though, shown a determination to sustain elements of Aznar’s policies—particularly towards the Basques—suggesting that relations are likely to worsen.

Immediately after the election, the Stalinist-dominated United Left (Izquierda Unida or IU) signed an “accord for political pluralism” with many of the regional parties. At a press conference to launch the accord, regionalists like the moderate Basque Nationalist Party (PNV), which heads the regional government, and the Galician National Bloc (BNG), welcomed an end to the “steamrolling and authoritarianism” of the Aznar government. In a separate statement, the PNV hailed “an end to the PP’s policy of confrontation, division and no dialogue”.

It was quickly apparent what the nationalist organisations hoped to win from the incoming government. Three of the “left nationalist” parties (the Basque Eusko Alkartasuna, Aragon’s Chunta Aragonesista and the Catalan Republican Left) issued an open letter calling for changes in national plurality, cultural and language policy. This was to be achieved through greater development of the country’s federal structure, that is, greater regional devolution of powers.

[papau]

1. anti-democratic measures because autonomy is not complete?

The Basques have a great deal of autonomy now

and no doubt want more

But "anti-democratic measures" continue???

What measures???

What additional regional devolution of powers are they seeking?

[bigbillhaywood]

2. Trotskyist agitprop