Carlos Garaikoetxea

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Carlos Garaikoetxea Urriza (Born in Pamplona, June 2, 1938) is a former Basque politician that became the second elected Lehendakari (President of the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country) after José Antonio Aguirre, who held that office in 1936-37.

He was a leading figure in the Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ-PNV) of Navarre in the period 1975-80. He was elected Lehendakari in 1980 and reelected in 1984.

In 1985 nevertheless, major divergences with the direction of his party, (law of Historical Territories, expulsion of all the organization in Navarre and Vitoria-Gasteiz) created a major split inside EAJ-PNV and Garaikoetxea, leading the minority faction (with greater support in Guipuscoa, Navarre and Vitoria-Gasteiz, but not in Biscay nor the Araban countriside), he was replaced by José Antonio Ardanza in 1985.

Soon after the breach inside the party was complete and Eusko Alkartasuna was founded, with Garaikotxea becoming its president and candidate to the Basque Presidency, role that he held until 1999, when he retired from politics.

He was invariably elected as deputy in the Basque Parliament in all successive elections until 1998. He was also a Member of the European Parliament from 1987 to 1991.