Separatists win in Spain's Basque region

MADRID Spanish People's Party, led by PM Mariano Rajoy, retained a majority in the country's region of Galicia, while a separatist parties won in the Basque Country. These are the final results of regional elections, were held in the two regions on Sunday. Separatists win in Spain's Basque region In Galicia, the People's Party won 41 of 75 assembly seats, compared to 38 it had in the previous elections, according to almost all the votes counted, the AFP reported. In the Basque Country, the winner was the Basque National Party which advocates greater autonomy for the region, and took 27 seats in the assembly that has 75 seats. A coalition of left-wing separatists Euskal Herria Bildu came in second with 21 mandates in the first local elections since the Basque separatist group ETA "renounced weapons and bombs in the struggle to create their own state" in October last year. The regional elections were a test for Prime Minister Rajoy as his cabinet as it combats the economic crisis, considering that his popularity declined due to the introduction of austerity measures and an increase in taxes after he came to power in December 2011. These local elections were also "a test" because of the growing separatist tensions elsewhere the country. The prime minister faces growing separatism in the northeastern region of Catalonia as well. Local elections will be held there on November 25, and provincial president Arthur Mas has promised that if his party wins again he would call for "a referendum on self-determination." Rajoy reacted to the idea and the possible victory of the Basque separatist front by warning that the biggest mistake Spaniards could make would be "to add a political and institutional crisis to the economic one". (file) Tanjug

Separatists win in Spain's Basque region

In Galicia, the People's Party won 41 of 75 assembly seats, compared to 38 it had in the previous elections, according to almost all the votes counted, the AFP reported.

In the Basque Country, the winner was the Basque National Party which advocates greater autonomy for the region, and took 27 seats in the assembly that has 75 seats.

A coalition of left-wing separatists Euskal Herria Bildu came in second with 21 mandates in the first local elections since the Basque separatist group ETA "renounced weapons and bombs in the struggle to create their own state" in October last year.

The regional elections were a test for Prime Minister Rajoy as his cabinet as it combats the economic crisis, considering that his popularity declined due to the introduction of austerity measures and an increase in taxes after he came to power in December 2011.

These local elections were also "a test" because of the growing separatist tensions elsewhere the country.

The prime minister faces growing separatism in the northeastern region of Catalonia as well.

Local elections will be held there on November 25, and provincial president Arthur Mas has promised that if his party wins again he would call for "a referendum on self-determination."

Rajoy reacted to the idea and the possible victory of the Basque separatist front by warning that the biggest mistake Spaniards could make would be "to add a political and institutional crisis to the economic one".