Euskal Herria Bai

Euskal Herria Bai
Basque Country Yes
General SecretaryNikolas Blain
Founded2007 (as an alliance)
2022 (as a party)
IdeologyBasque independence
Left-wing nationalism
Abertzale left
Socialism
Ecologism
Political positionLeft-wing to far-left
National affiliationNew Popular Front (2024–present)
National Assembly (Pyrénées-Atlantiques seats)
1 / 6
Departamental Council of Pyrénées-Atlantiques
2 / 54
Website
www.ehbai.eus

Euskal Herria Bai (transl. Basque Country Yes, EH Bai) is a Basque political party and former electoral alliance in France, founded in 2007 by Abertzaleen Batasuna, Eusko Alkartasuna and Batasuna.[1] Batasuna was dissolved in 2013, and replaced by Sortu.[2] It became a unified party in November 2022.[3]

History

[edit]

The coalition first contested the 2007 legislative elections as a union of three parties: Abertzaleen Batasuna, Batasuna, and Eusko Alkartasuna. Although initial discussions included the possibility of the Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ) joining the coalition, EAJ ultimately decided to remain outside due to the resumption of ETA's armed campaign on June 5, 2007.[4]

In 2011, the three parties forming the coalition called for an end to party divisions, as members of the Basque nationalist movement were demanding unity, aiming to become a single, strong movement. This push for unity was reflected in both the 2012 legislative elections and the 2014 municipal elections, serving as a sign of the organization’s unification and an effort to concretely define the organization through a participatory process.

On December 22, 2014, EH Bai held its first General Assembly in Uztaritze. In March 2018, another General Assembly decided to change the leadership of EH Bai, signaling a shift in the political phase in response to ETA's cessation of armed struggle. Additionally, the assembly resolved that EH Bai would transition from being a coalition to becoming a unified movement, focusing on local groups rather than political parties.[5]

2024 legislative elections

[edit]

For the 2024 French legislative elections, EH Bai joined the New People's Front (NPF) and participated in the elections as part of this alliance. In the Pyrénées-Atlantiques's 6th constituency (which includes the cities of Saint-Jean-de Luz, Biarritz and Hendaye) EH Bai member Peio Dufau was selected as the candidate for the NPF.[6]

Dufau won the first round of the election with 29,4% of the votes, just ahead of the Ensemble and the extreme-right candidates, who also progressed to the second round. In the second round Dufau won 36,3% of the votes, edging out the Ensemble candidate for first place.[7] Dufau is the first Basque nationalist elected to the National Assembly.

Election results

[edit]

National Assembly

[edit]
National Assembly
Election 1st round 2nd round Seats +/–
Votes % Votes %
2007 10,781 6.73 (#4)
0 / 577
0
2012 11,518 7.37 (#4)
0 / 577
0
2017 12,778 8.82 (#4)
0 / 577
0
2022 16,386 11.31 (#4)
0 / 577
0
2024 21,650 29.41 (#1) 27,117 36.28 (#1)
1 / 577
1

Departmental Council of Pyrénées-Atlantiques

[edit]
Departmental Council of Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Election 1st round 2nd round Seats +/– Note
Votes % Votes %
2008 12,302 13.75 (#3)
0 / 24
0
2011 16,233 12.84 (#3)
0 / 24
0
2015 17,779 16.09 (#3) 25,332 24.29
2 / 24
2
2021 20,821 24.68 (#2) 23,505 27.47
2 / 24
0

See also

[edit]
[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Euskal Herria Bai exigirá a París que reconozca y respete al Pueblo vasco. Archived 2007-10-08 at the Wayback Machine Gara, 12/04/2007.
  2. ^ Batasuna anuncia su disolución en Francia. ABC, 03/01/2013
  3. ^ Garicoïx, Michel (25 November 2022). "Les " patriotes " basques d'EHBai transforment le mouvement en parti politique". Le Monde (in French). Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  4. ^ "euskalherria.com - Le JPB - Paperezkoa". www.lejpb.com. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  5. ^ "EH Bai: koaliziotik mugimendura | Berria.eus". 2014-12-22. Archived from the original on 2014-12-22. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  6. ^ "EH Baik bat egin du Fronte Popularrarekin, eta hautagaiak izanen ditu". Berria (in Basque). 2024-06-14. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  7. ^ "6ème circonscription (6406) - Elections Législatives 2024 - Publication des résultats des élections en France". www.resultats-elections.interieur.gouv.fr. Retrieved 2024-08-13.