Post by Bozur on Feb 26, 2005 18:45:06 GMT -5
World - AFP
Spain's parliament rejects Basque autonomy plan
Tue Feb 1, 7:01 PM ET World - AFP
MADRID (AFP) - Spain's parliament overhwelmingly rejected a plan by the moderate leader of the Basque country for greater autonomy for the restless region in the north of the country.
The scheme by Juan Jose Ibarretxe would see the substantial autonomy the wealthy northern region already enjoys from Madrid upgraded to "free association" status.
Out of a total of 344 votes cast, 313 deputies voted against the plan, with 29 for and two abstentions.
The Basque regional assembly last month adopted the project, which would give the region its own legal system and representation abroad in organisations including the European Union.
But Spain's mainstream parties in Madrid see this as a threat to the country's cohesion and fear Ibarretxe's plan could presage similar claims by other regions, particularly Catalonia.
During the debate, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero rejected the plan, saying in reply to Ibarretxe: "This is the seat of democratic Spanish sovereignty, of each -- and every one -- of the regions."
"All Basques ... and all Spaniards will decide the relationship between the Basque country and the rest of Spain," added Zapatero, responding to Ibarretxe's opening half-hour address in which the moderate nationalist regional leader rejected mainstream party objections that his plan was unconstitutional.
Ibarretxe had urged lawmakers in the national parliament here not to spurn an "historic opportunity" to resolve relations between Madrid and the Basque country, poisoned for four decades by separatist violence fomented by armed group ETA which is blamed for more than 800 deaths.
"Don't spurn the historic opportunity which we have in front of us," said Ibarretxe, who insisted he had come "hands outstretched to open a process of negotiation" with Madrid.
"I believe in dialogue -- this is why I came here -- not to confront Madrid," Ibarretxe said.
Ibarretxe insisted that his blueprint was "legal, legitimate and democratic."
Existing autonomy in its current incarnation was afforded Spain's 17 autonomous regions with the passing in 1979, four years after the death of military dictator General Francisco Franco (news - web sites), of the Statute of Autonomy, known as the Statute of Guernica.
The Basque region had enjoyed limited self-government based on its own laws from the Middle Ages but under Franco autonomous tendencies in the region and elsewhere were brutally suppressed.
"We have seen that autonomous government is synonymous with well-being," Ibarretxe told legislators.
Spain's 1978 constitution invests sovereignty in the Spanish people as a whole, but not its constituent regions, and Zapatero in an address which met with loud applause, underlined that fact.
"I hope Mr Ibarretxe will accept that today's no vote will be a yes to a new reality," Zapatero said.
"If we live together we can decide together."
Ahead of the crushing no-vote Ibarretxe said in reply to speeches by mainstream party leaders he would press ahead with plans for a referendum in the Basque country on his autonomy scheme, regardless of whether parliament in Madrid rejected it.
"If this chamber decides to close the door on an absolute majority by the Basque parliament, I will respect my promise and cede to the Basque people," he said.
Ibarretxe, whose party firmly rejects ETA's violence, said ETA had "done immense harm to our families and to the image of the Basque people."
But he also criticised what he said was the precipitate way in which the national parliament in Madrid had been in a hurry to reject his plan instead of at least setting up a commission to study it.
"What does this assembly fear?" he asked. "You will not replace the right of the Basques to decide their future."
But Mariano Rajoy, head of the right-wing opposition Popular Party, said the plan was like a "declaration of independence" that would dismantle the state and "bury the Spanish constitution."
Spain's parliament rejects Basque autonomy plan
Tue Feb 1, 7:01 PM ET World - AFP
MADRID (AFP) - Spain's parliament overhwelmingly rejected a plan by the moderate leader of the Basque country for greater autonomy for the restless region in the north of the country.
The scheme by Juan Jose Ibarretxe would see the substantial autonomy the wealthy northern region already enjoys from Madrid upgraded to "free association" status.
Out of a total of 344 votes cast, 313 deputies voted against the plan, with 29 for and two abstentions.
The Basque regional assembly last month adopted the project, which would give the region its own legal system and representation abroad in organisations including the European Union.
But Spain's mainstream parties in Madrid see this as a threat to the country's cohesion and fear Ibarretxe's plan could presage similar claims by other regions, particularly Catalonia.
During the debate, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero rejected the plan, saying in reply to Ibarretxe: "This is the seat of democratic Spanish sovereignty, of each -- and every one -- of the regions."
"All Basques ... and all Spaniards will decide the relationship between the Basque country and the rest of Spain," added Zapatero, responding to Ibarretxe's opening half-hour address in which the moderate nationalist regional leader rejected mainstream party objections that his plan was unconstitutional.
Ibarretxe had urged lawmakers in the national parliament here not to spurn an "historic opportunity" to resolve relations between Madrid and the Basque country, poisoned for four decades by separatist violence fomented by armed group ETA which is blamed for more than 800 deaths.
"Don't spurn the historic opportunity which we have in front of us," said Ibarretxe, who insisted he had come "hands outstretched to open a process of negotiation" with Madrid.
"I believe in dialogue -- this is why I came here -- not to confront Madrid," Ibarretxe said.
Ibarretxe insisted that his blueprint was "legal, legitimate and democratic."
Existing autonomy in its current incarnation was afforded Spain's 17 autonomous regions with the passing in 1979, four years after the death of military dictator General Francisco Franco (news - web sites), of the Statute of Autonomy, known as the Statute of Guernica.
The Basque region had enjoyed limited self-government based on its own laws from the Middle Ages but under Franco autonomous tendencies in the region and elsewhere were brutally suppressed.
"We have seen that autonomous government is synonymous with well-being," Ibarretxe told legislators.
Spain's 1978 constitution invests sovereignty in the Spanish people as a whole, but not its constituent regions, and Zapatero in an address which met with loud applause, underlined that fact.
"I hope Mr Ibarretxe will accept that today's no vote will be a yes to a new reality," Zapatero said.
"If we live together we can decide together."
Ahead of the crushing no-vote Ibarretxe said in reply to speeches by mainstream party leaders he would press ahead with plans for a referendum in the Basque country on his autonomy scheme, regardless of whether parliament in Madrid rejected it.
"If this chamber decides to close the door on an absolute majority by the Basque parliament, I will respect my promise and cede to the Basque people," he said.
Ibarretxe, whose party firmly rejects ETA's violence, said ETA had "done immense harm to our families and to the image of the Basque people."
But he also criticised what he said was the precipitate way in which the national parliament in Madrid had been in a hurry to reject his plan instead of at least setting up a commission to study it.
"What does this assembly fear?" he asked. "You will not replace the right of the Basques to decide their future."
But Mariano Rajoy, head of the right-wing opposition Popular Party, said the plan was like a "declaration of independence" that would dismantle the state and "bury the Spanish constitution."