Basque referendum, 2008

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Basque Country (autonomous community)
This article is part of the series: Politics and government of the Basque Country

Autonomous communities of Spain Statute of Autonomy of the Basque Country Politics of Spain Ibarretxe Plan President Juan José Ibarretxe Basque Parliament Elections Basque Regional Elections: 2001, 2005 Referendums: 1979, 2008 Political parties: Aralar Basque Nationalist Party Communist Movement of Euskadi Communist Party of the Basque Homelands Communist Party of Euskadi Eusko Alkartasuna Ezker Batua - Izquierda Unida Partido Popular Socialist Party of Euskadi Former political parties: Basque Nationalist Republican Party Batasuna Democracia Cristiana Vasca Euskadiko Ezkerra Euskal Ezkerra Euskal Iraultzarako Alderdia Herri Alderdi Sozialista Iraultzailea Herritarren Zerrenda
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A referendum in the Basque Country regarding Basque self determination is scheduled for 25 October 2008; it was announced on 28 September 2007 by Lehendakari Juan José Ibarretxe (Supported by the three parties of his Government: Basque National Party, Eusko Alkartasuna and Ezker Batua Berdeak).^[1]

Ibarretxe stated he would negotiate its terms with the Spanish central government until June 2008, and would submit a possible mutually accepted plan to a binding referendum; should the negotiations fail, Ibarretxe stated he would hold a non-binding referendum on the future of the Basque Country.^[2] Another referendum in 2010 would then decide the final status of the Basque Country.^[3] Ibarretxe stated he believes an open-ended discussion on Basque independence would help to end the conflict with ETA.

Both the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party and the People's Party, including their Basque branches, rejected his plan, while nationalist parties such as the Galician Nationalist Bloc and the Republican Left of Catalonia expressed their admiration and respect.^{[4] [5]}

The two questions were revealed on 28 May 2008. The first question will ask whether the Basque people want the government to hold peace talks with ETA, assuming the militants are willing to stop armed activities, while the second question asks voters to approve or reject the proposal that all Basque parties should work together on an agreement to decide the Basque people's future, which would be put to a referendum by 2010.^[1] The referendum is widely seen as a veiled attempt to garner support for Basque independence.^[2]

The PSOE government has stated it will seek a court order to block the referendum, if necessary, to which Ibarretxe replied that he would call early elections in that case.^[3]