ETA

:For other meanings of ETA, see Eta.

Context

ETA forms part of what is known as the Basque National Liberation Movement (Movimiento de Liberación Nacional Vasco, MLNV in Spanish). This comprises several distinct organizations promoting a type of left Basque nationalism often referred to by the Basque-language term ezker abertzale or by the mixed Spanish and Basque izquierda abertzale (abertzale stands for patriot in Basque). These include ETA, Batasuna/Herri Batasuna/Euskal Herritarrok, and the associated youth group Haika (formed by Jarrai, Gazteriak, and Segi), the union LAB, Gestoras pro Amnistía and others.

Related Topics:
Basque National Liberation Movement - Spanish - Left - Abertzale - Batasuna - Haika - Jarrai - Gazteriak - Segi - LAB - Gestoras pro Amnistía

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There are also some left-wing nationalist groups seeking Basque independence but clearly disapproving of violent methods, such as Aralar http://www.aralar.net (as of 2005, with a representative in the Basque Parliament, Aintzane Ezenarro) or the Navarran coalition Nafarroa Bai http://www.nafarroabai.org (as of 2005, with a Spanish M.P., Uxue Barkos). In Basque, they could be called abertzale, but that wouldn't mean they support violence. In mainstream Spanish media, though, this term is usually only applied to ETA supporters.

Related Topics:
Aralar - Navarra - Nafarroa Bai - Spanish media

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Social support

During the Franco era, ETA had considerable public support even beyond the Basque populace, reaching its top after their murder of Almirante Luis Carrero Blanco in 1973 (Carrero Blanco was appointed by Franco as his successor in the rule of Spain). Spain's transition to democracy from 1975 on and ETA's progressive radicalization have resulted in a steady loss of support, which became especially apparent at the time of their 1997 kidnapping and assassination of Miguel Ángel Blanco. Their loss of sympathizers has been reflected in an erosion of support for the political parties identified with the MLNV.

Related Topics:
Franco - Luis Carrero Blanco - 1997 - Miguel Ángel Blanco

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In recent years, ETA supporters have become a minority in the Basque region. A Euskobarómetro http://www.ehu.es/cpvweb/paginas/euskobarometro.html poll (conducted by the Universidad del País Vasco) in the Basque Country in May 2004, found that a significant number of Basques supported some or all of ETA's goals. (33% favored Basque independence, 31% federalism, 32% autonomy, 2% centralism.) However, few supported their violent methods (87% agreed that "today in Euskadi it is possible to defend all political aspirations and objectives without the necessity of resorting to violence".)

Related Topics:
Euskobarómetro - Poll - Universidad del País Vasco - Basque Country

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The poll did not cover Navarre or the Basque areas of France, where Basque nationalism is weaker.

Related Topics:
Navarre - France

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