Vitoria - The most bitter and possibly the most significant election campaign ever to the Basque autonomous parliament officially opened yesterday, writes Paddy Woodworth. This is the first poll since ETA ended its ceasefire in 1999 and the theme of violence will dominate electoral debates. On May 13th, the electorate in three provinces will decide whether the Madrid government's effort to displace Basque nationalism as the dominant force in the parliament will succeed.
The Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) has governed, either solely or in coalition, since the parliament was established in 1980. In recent years the PNV has shifted towards explicit support for Basque independence, a goal it shares with ETA, though it rejects ETA's terrorist methods. The centre-right Partido Popular (PP), governing in Madrid, has rapidly increased its Basque vote as the PNV has become more radical, and hopes to overtake it in this election. The formation of a PP-led government is regarded by some observers as a major advance in the struggle against terrorism, while others feel it will push more Basque nationalists into ETA's camp.