Socialist Party of the Basque Country–Basque Country Left explained

Socialist Party of the Basque Country–Basque Country Left
Native Name:Euskadiko Alderdi Sozialista – Euskadiko Ezkerra
Leader:Eneko Andueza
Foundation:
Headquarters:C/ Alameda de Rekalde, 27, 4ª
48009, Bilbao
Membership Year:2014
Membership:5,250[1]
Ideology:Social democracy
Basque regionalism
Federalism
National:Spanish Socialist Workers' Party
Position:Centre-left
Colours:Red, White
Seats1 Title:Basque Parliament
Seats2 Title:Congreso de los Diputados (Basque seats)
Seats3 Title:Spanish Senate (Basque seats)
Seats4 Title:Juntas Generales
Seats5 Title:Local seats (2015-2019)
Seats6 Title:Mayors
Seats6:[2]
Country:Spain
State:Basque Country

The Socialist Party of the Basque Country–Basque Country Left (Basque: Euskadiko Alderdi Sozialista – Euskadiko Ezkerra, Spanish; Castilian: Partido Socialista de Euskadi – Euskadiko Ezkerra, PSE-EE) is a social-democratic[3] [4] political party in the Basque Country that acts as the regional affiliate of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE).

History

Although local Socialist groups had been active since 1886, and many affiliated with the PSOE (being Biscay one of the strongholds of Spanish social democracy, along with Madrid and Asturias), the PSE was actually established as a branch of the main party only in 1977, during the Spanish transition to democracy, initiated by King Juan Carlos I of Spain.

During the violent years of the 1980s in the Basque Country, mid- and high-ranking party officials held government positions in Spain and the region, as civil governors. The Basque nationalist left - Herri Batasuna and related groups - denounced during that period the collusion of the party with police abuses - especially pointing to the Guardia Civil - and in early 1984 blamed directly the Socialists for the state terrorism of the GAL death squads (1984-1987).[5]

In the early 1990s, some of them were convicted for their participation in it.[6] Ricardo Damborenea, head of the party in Biscay, even confessed in a press release to his involvement in the criminal pursuit in the early 1990s. All of them have been released from prison much earlier than their due term without apologising for their illegal actions; Damborenea currently gets a substantial monthly allowance from the Spanish state.[7]

It has local associations in Gipuzkoa, Biscay, and Álava. Before June 1982, it also included a Navarre branch - which formed the Socialist Party of Navarre, PSN (PSOE).

Initially in a close alliance with the Basque Country Left (EE), a party connected with Basque nationalism, begun in 1991 with a move promoted by the respective secretaries - Ramón Jáuregui for the PSE and Mario Onaindia for the EE. It aimed to become the major Basque force in the 1993 election. The fusion of the two groups was made possible by the split of Basque Left from EE: prepared by the leadership of Nicolás Redondo Terreros (1998–2002), it was confirmed with the mandate of Patxi López in 2002.

During the 2012 elections to the parliament of the Basque Autonomous Community, the PSE-EE came up third in number of MPs (16), lagging behind the Basque Nationalist Party and EH Bildu. Throughout its recent history, it fluctuated between second and third, depending on the success of the People's Party or the Abertzale Left).

Electoral performance

Basque Parliament

Basque Parliament
ElectionLeading candidateVotes%Seats+/–Government
1980Txiki Benegas130,22114.16 (#3)9
1984247,78622.96 (#2)10
1986252,23321.95 (#1)0
1990Ramón Jáuregui202,73619.79 (#2)3
1994174,68216.83 (#2)10
1998Nicolás Redondo220,05217.35 (#4)2
2001253,19517.76 (#3)1
2005Patxi López274,54622.51 (#2)5
2009318,11230.36 (#2)7
2012212,80918.89 (#3)9
2016Idoia Mendia126,42011.86 (#4)7
2020122,24813.52 (#3)1
2024Eneko Andueza150,75214.09 (#3)2

Cortes Generales

Cortes Generales
ElectionBasque Country
CongressSenate
Votes%Seats+/–Seats+/–
1977267,89726.48%2nd
1979190,23519.05%2nd20
1982348,62029.16%2nd34
1986287,91826.29%2nd11
1989233,65021.11%2nd11
1993293,44224.52%1st12
1996298,49923.67%2nd22
2000266,58323.31%3rd14
2004339,75127.22%2nd34
2008430,69038.14%1st24
2011255,01321.55%3rd57
2015161,98813.25%4th12
2016164,25514.23%3rd00
2019 (Apr)253,98919.90%2nd12
2019 (Nov)227,39619.21%2nd00
2023289,82625.27%1st12

European Parliament

European Parliament
ElectionBasque Country
Votes%
1987204,52219.05%3rd
1989175,77618.25%3rd
1994165,06318.26%2nd
1999226,18719.54%3rd
2004199,34128.23%2nd
2009202,88527.78%2nd
2014105,04313.81%3rd
2019212,88118.98%3rd

Notes and References

  1. http://www.canalsur.es/portada/unos-197400-militantes-elegiran-al-lider-del-psoe-45600-en-andalucia/404461.html Unos 197.400 militantes elegirán al líder del PSOE, 45.600 en Andalucía.
  2. http://ccaa.elpais.com/ccaa/2015/06/13/paisvasco/1434202061_858436.html El nuevo escenario municipal en Euskadi.
  3. Book: Gabriel Gatti. Ignacio Irazuzta. Iñaki Martínez de Albeniz. Basque Society: Structures, Institutions, and Contemporary Life. 1 January 2005. University of Nevada Press. 978-1-877802-25-6. 177–.
  4. Web site: Basque Country/Spain. Wolfram. Nordsieck. 2020. Parties and Elections in Europe. 3 October 2018.
  5. News: Dirigentes de Herri Batasuna relacionan a altos funcionarios policiales con los GAL. El País. 4 January 1984.
  6. News: Juicio por el secuestro de Segundo Marey. El Mundo.
  7. News: Más de 2,5 millones al año en pensiones y complementos. Público. 9 September 2011.