Why a referendum in the Basque country ?

The Spanish daily is highly critical of Juan José Ibarretxe, president of the autonomous Basque Community, who announced on Friday, September 28th, the desire to organise a referendum in the Basque country in 2008. "Ibarretxe is going to call for a referendum to be held this coming year, but he does not yet know on which subject. It may be to ratify a political agreement [on the status of the Basque country], or else to unblock the situation if no agreement is established. ... Ibarretxe wants to keep his promise to hold a referendum no matter what and despite all the risks Josu Juan Imaz, the president of his party [Basque Nationalst Party] is already running. Far from unblocking things, the referendum may well divide the population just as several parties are already divided. This illegal initiative [regions have no right to demand referendums in Spain] will provoke a clash with State institutions and this won't help anyone, except for the ETA."

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