The Spanish Parliament overwhelmingly called for the Supreme Court of the country to declare the Basque political party 'Herri Batasuna', which is the political branch of the illegal separatist group 'ETA', illegal. Members of the Spanish Parliament in a special session on Monday voted 295 in favor and 10 against, demanding that the Supreme Court completely outlaw this party. The parliamentary action came just hours after Baltasar Garzón, Spain's top anti-terrorism judge, suspended the activities of Herri Batasuna for three years. In the city of Bilbao in the Basque Country, Arnaldo Otegi, a spokesperson for Herri Batasuna, called Spain a fascist and oppressive country and stated that his party would continue its efforts for Basque independence.
Spanish Parliament Votes to Outlaw Political Branch of a Terrorist Organization
The Spanish Parliament voted to outlaw the political party Herri Batasuna, linked to the terrorist group ETA, with a significant majority. This decision follows a suspension of the party's activities by a top anti-terrorism judge. The move highlights ongoing tensions in Spain regarding Basque independence and terrorism.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The Spanish Parliament voted overwhelmingly to request the Supreme Court to declare the political party Herri Batasuna illegal. This decision followed a suspension of the party's activities by a leading anti-terrorism judge.
- The vote was 295 in favor and 10 against.
- The parliamentary action underscores ongoing tensions regarding Basque independence.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Herri Batasuna has historically been associated with ETA, which has used violence to pursue Basque independence. The Spanish government has taken a hard stance against both the party and the organization.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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