Title

State of the World's Minorities 2006 - Spain

Publisher

Minority Rights Group International

Country

Spain

Publication Date 22 December 2005

Cite as

Minority Rights Group International, State of the World's Minorities 2006 - Spain, 22 December 2005, available at:
http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/48abdd8fc.html [accessed 3 September 2010]

State of the World's Minorities 2006 - Spain

After years of bloody clashes, terrorist attacks and broken cease-fires,
the Spanish government banned the political wing of the militant
organization, Euzkadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA), the Basque separatist Herri
Batasuna party, indefinitely in March 2003.

Delegates of the party in the Basque regional parliament however held
on to their seats by changing the name of the party. In March 2004,
following the collapse of the Aznar government largely because of its
unsuccessful political manoeuvring to blame ETA for the Madrid
bombings, the new government of Jose Luis Rodriquez Zapatero came
into power and subsequently achieved the support of the Spanish
parliament in May 2005 to offer peace talks with ETA provided the
group disarmed. Zapatero therefore called for ETA to disband and
disarm. Previous governments have also attempted negotiations with
ETA but this time Zapatero could bank on a change of minds and hearts
of the Spanish people in favour of finding a peaceful solution to the
conflict induced by the escalation in international and internal
terrorism. The weakening of the ruling pro-autonomy moderate
nationalist party in the Basque regional elections in April 2004 has also
been seen as strengthening Zapatero's argument for talks. The arrest
and indictment of a former Batasuna member, Arnaldo Otegi, has
however put Zapatero's efforts in jeopardy.

In Spain, considerable socio-economic differences persist between a
large number of Roma and the rest of the population. Members of the
Roma communities face marginalization and social exclusion, but the
Spanish government has made efforts to improve the situation of the
Roma through the Governmental Roma Development Programme.

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