The Basque Country (pdf, 4,3Mb) - Kultura Saila - Euskadi.net

4.1. Political organisation of Euskadi
and the Statute of Autonomy
The powers assigned to Euskadi within Spain are defined in the
Statute of Autonomy, passed by referendum in 1979 by 54% of
registered voters.
The first article of the Basque Statute of Autonomy, commonly
known as the Statute of Gernika states that: “The Basque People
or Euskal Herria, as an expression of their nationality and in
order to accede to self-government, constitute an Autonomous
Community within the Spanish State under the name of «Euskadi»
or the Basque Country, in accordance with the Constitution and
with this Statute, which lays down its basic institutional rules”.
According to this basic law, the Autonomous Community of
the Basque Country comprises the Historical Territories Araba,
Gipuzkoa and Bizkaia, and leaves open the possibility for Navarre
to join the union should it so desire.
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The representative organisation by Merindades in Bizkaia in the
former Juntas of Gernika, or by Cuadrillas in Araba, or by valleys
in Navarre reveal a tradition based on boroughs or districts
(comarcas) understood as areas naturally divided into groups of
neighbouring municipalities. There are a number of expressions
of this tradition today. For example, elections for representatives
to the Juntas Generales are organised by comarca; and towns in
Navarre are grouped either by valleys or by smaller town councils
coming together under a larger municipal government (the Baztán
or Ulzama valleys).
Vitoria-Gasteiz is the seat of the Basque Parliament and
Government, the highest institutions in the Autonomous
Community of Euskadi. Both institutions are common to
the three ʻhistorical territoriesʼ or provinces: Alava-Araba,
Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa.
Basque Parliament assembly hall.
4.1.1. Proposal for a new Political Statute
The Statute of Gernika, now in force, lays down the Basque
political system. It is currently undergoing a process of revision.
In a plenary session held on December 30th 2004, the Basque
Parliament passed by absolute majority a new “Political Statute of
the Community of the Basque Country” to be put to debate with
the central Spanish Government for the purpose of formalising a
new political status of “free association with the Spanish State”.
The agreement urged Spain to become a pluri-national state based on
a federate or confederate model, establishing a system of guarantees
and granting the Basque People greater decision-making powers.
The proposal was rejected by the Spanish Parliament in Madrid.
4.1.2. A few historical peculiarities
Some customs or practices rooted in history still exert a certain
amount of influence on formalities today.
As a result of the old inland customs houses and free trade
relations with European countries, some shipping treaties remain
in place, such as documents signed between England and the
General Assemblies, or Juntas Generales of Bizkaia in 1353,
the Juntas Generales of Gipuzkoa in 1482, or the Consulate
of Bilbao (1511). These treaties are a strong symptom of the
Basque regionʼs outward looking predisposition in terms of both
economic aspects (heavy export activity) and political identity.