The Regional Problem in Spain

Abstract

The results of the elections of 1 March 1979 show the abiding importance of the regional issue in Spain and the necessity of finding a constitutional solution for the regional problem. In these elections the historic party of Basque nationalism, the PNV (Partido Nacionalista Vasco) which supports a generous grant of autonomy to the Basque Provinces, gained eight seats; the national Spanish parties, the socialists and the UCD — the centre party of the present Prime Minister Señor Suárez — gained twelve seats between them. Even more alarming, from the central government’s point of view, was the relative strength of the extreme nationalist left: Herri Batasuna, the extreme left-wing separatist, nationalist party which supports the ETA militar (Euskadi Ta Azkatasuna) advocates of the armed struggle, won three seats and the left-wing nationalist party Euskadiko Ezquerra a single seat. Even more surprising was the victory of the Andalusian Socialist Party, PSA (Partido Socialista de Andalucia) with five seats, marking the emergence of a new brand of left-wing regionalism. In only one region — Catalonia — did the nationalist thrust show signs of weakening. Convergencia i Unió, which was a coalition of parties committed to autonomy for Catalonia, dropped one seat from ten to nine. But this must not be interpreted as a weakening of the Catalan demand for autonomy: the Spanish parties of the left, the communists and socialists, and the UCD (Unión de Centro Democrático) in Catalonia are committed to autonomy, even though with varying degrees of enthusiasm.