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57-654: Blusas are individuals in the autonomous Basque region in Spain who dress in the traditional clothes of the region and attend events in Vitoria-Gasteiz (Basque Country) such as the Virgen Blanca Festivities . The blusas assemble in groups called cuadrillas, and their main role is to provide entertainment at these events. Etymologically, blusas comes from the Basque language and refers to

114-833: A Basque radio/TV station . These and only some of the powers acknowledge in the Gernika Statute have since 1980 been transferred to the Autonomous Community by the Cortes Generales under the Gernika Statute . The seats of the Basque Parliament and Government are in Vitoria-Gasteiz , so this is the capital city de facto , but the Basque Autonomous Community has no capital de jure . The Parliament

171-607: A large majority of that Parliament in January 2005. Since the first autonomic cabinet, the Basque Nationalist Party has held office in the Basque Autonomous Community except for a 2009–2012 term, led by Patxi López (PSE-PSOE). The current Basque prime minister is Iñigo Urkullu , also a member of the Basque Nationalist Party . Despite ETA 's ceasefire in 2011, this autonomous community shows

228-569: A percentage slightly higher than the EU average (10.8%), but still ahead of the Spanish overall unemployment rate of around 16.55%, the second highest in the EU. Unemployment rate (December data) (%) In regards to GDP performance, 2017 was a remarkably positive year for the Basque Autonomous Community. It underwent an increase in GDP of 3.0%, close to the Spanish increase, 3.1%. In the last term of 2013,

285-596: A pure continental climate: winters are cold and dry and summers very warm and dry, with precipitation peaking in spring and autumn. Due to the proximity to the ocean however, the Ebro part of the Basque Country is moderate compared to areas further inland. Almost half of the 2,155,546 inhabitants of the Basque Autonomous Community live in the Bilbao metropolitan area , almost the entirety of the province of Biscay. Six of

342-542: A shirt, a "blusa" (blouse), a pair of trousers and the " albarcas " whereas "neskas" wear a blouse, long skirt and " albarcas ". Basque Country (autonomous community) The Basque Country was granted the status of nationality , attributed by the Spanish Constitution of 1978 . The autonomous community is based on the Statute of Autonomy of the Basque Country , a foundational legal document providing

399-705: Is a 24-hectare coastal wetland lying where the Bidasoa River meets the sea in the Bay of Biscay . The nature of Plaiaundi consists of a wide variety of flora (visitors view them mainly in the spring) and fauna (visitors with binoculars arrive all during the year, because of the birds migratory habits). The Basque mountains form the watershed and also mark the distinct climatic areas of the Basque Country: The northern valleys, in Biscay and Gipuzkoa and also

456-697: Is a river tributary of the Ebro in the Basque Country in the north of the Iberian Peninsula . The river flows primarily across Álava province (flowing briefly through the Treviño enclave at La Puebla de Arganzón ) finally reaching the Ebro near Miranda de Ebro in Burgos province, Castille and León . The river's water volume is the largest in Álava, with its basin being the most extensive in

513-615: Is composed of 25 representatives from each of the three provinces. The Basque Parliament elects the Lehendakari (President of the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country) who forms a government following regular parliamentary procedures. Until 2020, except for the 2009–2012 period, all Lehendakaris (even those in 1937 and during the exile) have been members of the Basque Nationalist Party (Euzko Alderdi Jeltzalea) (moderate and Christian-Democrat ) since 1978. Since 1982 until

570-618: Is ethnically Basque. The Basque Government used the " Laurak Bat ", which included the arms of Navarre, as its symbol for many years. The Navarrese Government protested, and tribunals ruled in their favour. The Basque Government replaced it with an empty red field. Navarre is one of the historical Basque territories and even claimed by the Basque nationalists as the core of the Basque nation. There are also two enclaves surrounded by Basque territory— Treviño (Basque: Trebiñu ) and Valle de Villaverde (Basque: Villaverde-Turtzioz )—which belong to

627-485: The 2012 Basque parliamentary election , the PNV obtained a plurality of the votes, followed by the left-wing nationalist coalition EH Bildu ( Eusko Alkartasuna , Sortu , Alternatiba ). In 2016 the Basque regional election was held on 25 September to elect the 11th Parliament of the Basque Autonomous Community, which left a hung parliament , with the combination of Basque nationalist parties (PNV and EH Bildu ) representing

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684-531: The Ecofin , with a full membership, in order to defend Basque interests in line with Basque reality and fiscal status, and not as a Spanish subsidiary. The strategic geographical location of the Basque Country as a link between the northwest and centre of Spain and the rest of Europe makes this territory heavily transited. The main backbones of road transport are the AP-8 motorway which links Bilbao, San Sebastián and

741-470: The European Union and 30% higher than Spain's average in 2016 at €34,400. In 2019, the community showed a surplus in public finances, at 0.3% of the GDP. Industrial activities were traditionally centred on steel and shipbuilding, mainly due to the rich iron ore resources found during the 19th century around Bilbao. The Estuary of Bilbao was the centre of Euskadi's Industrial Revolution during

798-543: The Provincias Vascongadas since 1833 . The political structure of the new autonomous community is defined in the Gernika Statute , which was approved by a majority in a referendum held on 25 October 1979. Nowadays it is one of the most decentralised regions in the world; in this regard it has been described as having " more autonomy than just about any other in Europe " by The Economist . As regards

855-464: The "NO" vote in this referendum was also higher in the Basque Country than in the rest of the state. All in all, many Basques believe that they are not bound to a constitution that they never endorsed. The Statute of Autonomy of the Basque Country is an organic law but powers have been devolved gradually during decades according to re-negotiations between the Spanish and the consecutive Basque regional governments to reach an effective implementation, while

912-594: The 19th and the first half of the 20th century. These activities decayed during the economic crisis of the 1970s and 1980s, giving ground for the development of the services sector and new technologies. Today, the strongest industrial sectors of the Basque Country's economy are the manufacturing sector , present in the valleys of Biscay and Gipuzkoa; aeronautics and logistics in Vitoria-Gasteiz; and finance and energy , in Bilbao. The biggest companies in

969-489: The 20th century due to heavy immigration from other parts of Spain, the virtual nonexistence of Basque-language schooling, and national policies implemented by the different Spanish régimes (see Language policies of Francoist Spain ). After the advent of the Statute of Autonomy of the Basque Country in 1982 following Franco's death, this reductive trend was gradually reversed thanks to the Basque-language schools and

1026-457: The Basque Autonomous Community, 33.9% were fluent Basque speakers, 19.1% passive speakers and 47% did not speak Basque. The proportion of Basque speakers was again highest in Gipuzkoa (50.6%) and lowest in Álava (19.2%). The 2021 sociolinguistic survey found that 36.2% of the population above age 16 spoke Basque, 18.6% were passive speakers and 45.3% did not speak Basque. In Gipuzkoa 51.8% spoke

1083-501: The Basque Country are: BBVA , one of the largest financial institutions in the world and Spain's second largest bank; the multinational energy company Iberdrola (both of them have their headquarters in Bilbao); Mondragón Cooperative Corporation , the largest cooperative in the world; railway vehicle manufacturer CAF and Gamesa , the world's second largest wind turbine manufacturer. Eight out of ten Spanish municipalities with

1140-594: The Basque Country outperformed Spain in several parameters, but economic overall figures were highly variable. Spanish figures are subject to conspicuous seasonal fluctuation, relying on its tourist and services sectors, while Basque performance is rather based on mid- and long-term results, according with its more industrial focus. In the last quarter of 2017, unemployment in this autonomous community rose to 11.1% (8.43% in Gipuzkoa ), second lowest in Spain after Navarre , at

1197-654: The Basque Country still perform tax collection in their respective territories, but with limited margin in decision making under the Spanish and European governments. Under this intricate system, the Diputaciones Forales (Basque: Foru Aldundiak ) administer most of each of the provinces but are coordinated by the autonomous Basque Government (Spanish Gobierno Vasco , Basque: Eusko Jaurlaritza ). The autonomous community has its own police force (the Ertzaintza ), controls Education and Health Systems, and has

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1254-506: The Basque country now comes from abroad, chiefly from South America. As of 2018, there were 151,519 foreigners in the Basque country, 7% of the population. Roman Catholicism is, by far, the largest religion in Basque Country. In 2019, the proportion of Basques that identify themselves as Roman Catholic was 60%, while it is one of the most secularised communities of Spain: 24.6% were non-religious and 12.3% of Basques were atheist . Spanish and Basque are co-official in all territories of

1311-533: The Basque political process . A specific approach to the national realities in Spain was eventually diffused by a legal provision allowing for the establishment of autonomous administrations and parliaments to any region in Spain (e.g. Castile and León , Catalonia , the Valencian Community , etc.), while the Basques, Catalans, and Galicians were acknowledged historic specificity. The provinces in

1368-459: The Catalan independence referendum and lashed out at the Spanish government's stance on the issue, denouncing any measures it may take against the vote or 'democracy' altogether. Besides supporting the vote, Basques of this community showed a preference for further self-government (43.5%), with independence and present-day status quo ranking as second and third options (22.6% and 18.9%). In 2016,

1425-960: The French border and the A-1 motorway which links San Sebastián and Vitoria-Gasteiz with central Spain. Other important routes include the AP-68 motorway which links Bilbao with the Mediterranean. Euskal Trenbide Sarea ( Basque Railway Network ) is the Basque Government-owned company that maintains and creates the railway infrastructure in the autonomous region. Euskotren is the Basque Government-owned narrow gauge rail company that operates commuter services in Bilbao and San Sebastián, intercity Bilbao-San Sebastián service, and Euskotren Tranbia tram services in Bilbao and Vitoria-Gasteiz. Metro Bilbao operates two metro lines that serve

1482-584: The Greater Bilbao area while Euskotren operates a third which opened in 2017. Euskotren operates a metro-like service in the San Sebastián area. The Spanish government owns two main RENFE broad gauge lines that link Vitoria-Gasteiz with San Sebastián and Bilbao with central Spain. It also operates Cercanías commuter lines in both Bilbao and San Sebastián. Zadorra River The Zadorra

1539-481: The Spanish Congress from this autonomous community in the 2019 November general election in contrast with their rise and important presence in the overall Spanish results. The statute, insofar as it is addressed and provides an administrative framework for the Basque people, provides the mechanisms for neighbouring Navarre to join the three western provinces if it wishes to do so, since at least part of it

1596-607: The autonomous community. The Basque-speaking areas in the modern-day autonomous community are set against the wider context of the Basque language, spoken to the east in Navarre and the French Basque Country. The whole Basque-speaking territory has experienced both decline and expansion in its history. The Basque language experienced a gradual territorial contraction throughout the last nine centuries, and very severe deterioration of its sociolinguistic status for much of

1653-538: The bounds to the Spanish Constitution, Basque nationalists cite the fact that in the 1978 Spanish Constitution referendum, which was passed with a majority of votes and a poor turnout in this area, the Basque Country had the highest abstention (the Basque Nationalist Party had endorsed abstention on the grounds that the Constitution was being forced upon them without any Basque input). To this,

1710-522: The capital Vitoria-Gasteiz is located. The rivers flow south from the mountains to the Ebro River. The main rivers are the Zadorra River and Bayas River . From the southern mountains to the Ebro is the so-called Rioja Alavesa , which shares the Mediterranean characteristics of other Ebro Valley zones. Some of Spain's production of Rioja wine takes place here. The Plaiaundi Ecology Park

1767-622: The different national identities (Basque, Catalan and Galician). A negotiation between UCD 's Suárez in office and PNV led to the establishment of the Basque statute, with its first article stating that the Basque people ( Euskal Herria ) takes on an institutional personality in the form of the Basque Autonomous Community; the 2nd article goes on to establish that it may be constituted by Álava, Biscay, Gipuzkoa, as well as Navarre . Provincial councils provided with actual relevant attributions (taxation, etc.) were restored to these provinces (called therefore diputación foral ), but Navarre detached from

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1824-464: The fellow neighbouring communities of Castile and León and Cantabria respectively, for which a legal connection to the Basque Country has become an on-off matter of political discussion. The Basque Autonomous Community ranks first in Spain in terms of per capita product , it's the most economically productive region of the country with a gross domestic product (GDP) per capita (adjusted to purchasing power parity, PPP) being 22% higher than that of

1881-420: The framework for the development of the Basque people on Southern Basque Country . Parallelly, Navarre , which narrowly rejected a joint statute of autonomy in 1932, was granted a separate chartered statute in 1982. Currently there is no official capital in the autonomous community, but the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz , in the province of Álava, is the de facto capital as the location of the Basque Parliament ,

1938-500: The future. The current laws configure the autonomous community as a federation of its present-day three constituent provinces. These western Basque districts kept governing themselves by their own laws and institutions even after the Castilian invasion in 1199–1200. The new king upheld their institutional system issued from the consuetudinary law prevalent in Basque and Pyrenean territories. This limited self-government, similar to

1995-577: The headquarters of the Basque Government , and the residence of the President of the Basque Autonomous Community (the Palace of Ajuria Enea ). The High Court of Justice of the Basque Country has its headquarters in the city of Bilbao . Whilst Vitoria-Gasteiz is the largest municipality in area, with 277 km (107 sq mi), Bilbao is the largest in population, with 353,187 people, located in

2052-601: The highest rate of police per 100 inhabitants in Western Europe by 2018. As agreed with the Spanish premier Zapatero in 2004, Urkullu intends to increase the figure of ertzainas , while the Spanish PP 's Ministry of Interior rejects a pullback of Spanish police bodies, as demanded by the large majority of the political forces in the autonomous parliament, even pointing to an increase of the Guardia Civil in

2109-690: The language, in Biscay 30.6%, and in Álava 22.4% did The forerunner of the Gernika Statute was the short-lived Statute of Autonomy for Álava, Gipuzkoa and Biscay, which came to be enforced in October 1936 just in Biscay, with the Spanish Civil War already raging, and which was automatically abolished when the Spanish Nationalist troops occupied the territory. Before the Spanish Constitution of 1978 and its system of autonomous communities, these three provinces were known in Spanish as

2166-466: The largest wedge in the parliament of the Basque Autonomous Community, the main Spanish parties PP and PSOE's branches occupying a 24% of the seats, and Podemos – Ahal Dugu accounting for 11 seats (14.66% of the total). However, the leading party PNV renewed its traditional alliance with the PSE to form government. During the 2017 Catalan referendum crisis, the parliament showed its sympathy and support to

2223-524: The late 1990s, Basque nationalists ideologically closer to ETA refused to turn out in the Basque parliament, a significant wedge of the parliament. Currently, the Basque Government is headed by Iñigo Urkullu ( PNV ). ETA's permanent ceasefire (2010–2011) opened the possibility of new governmental alliances and has enabled EH Bildu's electoral success and rise to governmental institutions ( Gipuzkoa , and capital city Donostia , 2011–2015). In

2280-404: The lowest unemployment rates were found across this autonomous community in 2015, highlighting such towns as Arrasate , Portugalete and Barakaldo with a strong manufacturing industrial make-up. The Basque Autonomous Community ranked above other communities in Spain in terms of resilience in the face of the economic crisis, going on to become a beacon and a subject of study in Europe. In 2013

2337-738: The mountains to the Bay of Biscay , like the Nervión , Urola or Oria . The coast is rough, with high cliffs and small inlets. The main features of the coast are the Bilbao Abra Bay and the Estuary of Bilbao , the Urdaibai estuary and the Bidasoa-Txingudi Bay that forms the border with France. Between the two mountain ranges, the area is occupied mainly by a high plateau called Llanada Alavesa (the Álava Plains), where

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2394-519: The new education system. Basque has always had a strong presence in most of Gipuzkoa , central and eastern Biscay and the northern edge of Álava , while most Basque speakers in western Biscay and the rest of Álava are second-language speakers. The 2006 sociolinguistic survey of all Basque provinces showed that in 2006 of all people aged 16 and above in the Basque Autonomous Community, 30.1% were fluent Basque speakers, 18.3% passive speakers and 51.5% did not speak Basque. The percentage of Basque speakers

2451-708: The north, France ( Nouvelle-Aquitaine ) and Navarre to the east and La Rioja (the Ebro River ) to the south. The territory has three distinct areas, which are defined by the two parallel ranges of the Basque Mountains . The main range of mountains forms the watershed between the Atlantic and Mediterranean basins. The highest point of the range is in the Aizkorri massif (1551 m). The three areas are: Formed by many valleys with short rivers that flow from

2508-526: The north, where it takes a turn to the south heading to the Ebro through La Puebla de Arganzón. The Zadorra is the most important river in Álava and is also the most polluted . It ranks in the top six polluted rivers in the Basque Country. More than 2,754 waste disposals have been authorised, 1,783 (65%) of which are urban and 960 (35%) of to which are industrial. From the 960 industries 89 of them are subject integrated environmental authorization. Unauthorized waste disposal also must be taken into account for

2565-434: The one for Navarre , was partially suppressed in 1839 and totally in 1876 in exchange for an agreement on tax-collection and a number of administrative prerogatives. These in turn were suspended by Franco for Gipuzkoa and Biscay, but restored by the Spanish Constitution of 1978 . The post-Franco Spanish Constitution of 1978 acknowledges historical rights and attempts a compromise in the old conflict between centralism and

2622-463: The parliament of the autonomous community passed a Police Abuses Act spanning the period between 1978 and 1999; it was shortly repealed after challenged by the public prosecutor and appealed also by virtually all police and Civil Guard unions. Incoming Spanish premier Pedro Sanchez agreed to lift the public prosecutor's block on the law in exchange for altering its content. Right-wing parties in Spain, Vox , PP, and Ciudadanos , sent one MP out of 18 to

2679-474: The pollution in the river. The kind of insects that nest in the river are an indicator of the degradation of the Zadorra. Because the insects show in the top of the river what is happening in the bottom of it. In addition, nitrates have appeared in the river, despite the amount of nitrates being low, there should not be any nitrates. In 2008 the Ebro 's hydrographic confederation published a report about some of

2736-475: The pollution. Additionally, waste dumped by industries is often more polluted than it should be. The oxygen levels in the Zadorra are below the standards required for the wildlife in the river. The river's situation is also aggravated by the presence of toxins. The level of toxins is above the amount allowed by the European Union. Fifteen wastewater treatment plants have helped stopping the advance of

2793-401: The province of Biscay within a conurbation of 875,552 people. The term Basque Country may also refer to the larger cultural region (Basque: Euskal Herria ), the home of the Basque people, which includes the autonomous community. The following provinces make up the autonomous community: The Basque Country borders Cantabria and the Burgos province to the west, the Bay of Biscay to

2850-741: The province. Nowadays it provides by means of the Zadorra Reservoir System (comprising reservoirs Uribarri-Ganboa, Urrunaga and Albina) water supply for Vitoria and half of the Basque Autonomous Community . The river rises in the slopes of the Entzia Plateau at the spring known as Los Corrales (municipality of San Millán/Donemiliaga ), meandering thereafter across the Alavan Plains to the west (loops around Agurain/Salvatierra ) past Vitoria by

2907-666: The public debt of the Basque Autonomous Community stood at 13.00% of its GDP, totalling €3,753 per capita, as compared to Spain's overall 93.90%, totalling €20,383 per capita. The Basque Government's high-ranking officials, as well as Basque-based party leaders and personalities, have protested and voiced their concern over the detrimental effects of austerity measures passed by the Spanish Government as of 2011, overruling Basque taxation powers, may be having on industry and trade, especially export. Basque officials have strongly advocated for participation, along with Navarre, in

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2964-556: The ten most populous cities in the region form part of Bilbao's conurbation (Bilbao, Barakaldo , Getxo , Portugalete , Santurtzi and Basauri ), which is widely known as Greater Bilbao . With 28.2% of the Basque Country population born outside this region, immigration is crucial to Basque demographics. Over the 20th century most of this immigration came from other parts of Spain, typically from Galicia or Castile and León . Over recent years, sizeable numbers of this population have returned to their birthplaces and most immigration to

3021-477: The transfer of many powers are still due and has always been a matter of heated political discussion. Basque nationalists often put down this limitation in the devolution of powers to concessions made to appease the military involved in the 23-F coup d'état attempt (1981). In 2003, the governing Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) proposed to alter this statute through the Ibarretxe Plan . The Ibarretxe bill

3078-479: The typical long shirts worn at the festivities. The festivities in Vitoria-Gasteiz have a rural origin. It was originally held for attendance at los toros . Blusas are the main cheerleaders of festivals and thus their routine is connected to it. During the corrida , they gather and parade near the bullring without entering. The blusas wear the typical rural attire the Araba natives once wore. The outfit consists of

3135-413: The valley of Ayala in Álava, are part of Green Spain , where the oceanic climate is predominant, with its wet weather all year round and moderate temperatures. Precipitation average is about 1200 mm. The middle section is influenced more by the continental climate , but with a varying degree of the northern oceanic climate. This gives warm, dry summers and cold, snowy winters. The Ebro valley has

3192-750: Was approved by absolute majority in the Basque Parliament after much discussion, as it was subject to lengthy legal objections—on the grounds that it contradicts the Spanish Constitution—;that were ultimately overcome. Despite its mandate of the majority of the autonomous Parliament, the main two parties in Spain (PSOE, PP) imposed a blockade on a discussion of the Plan in the Spanish Parliament ( Madrid Cortes Generales ), resulting in its rejection for debate by

3249-420: Was highest in Gipuzkoa (49.1% speakers) and lowest in Álava (14.2%). These results represent an increase on previous years (29.5% in 2001, 27.7% in 1996 and 24.1% in 1991). The highest percentage of speakers was now found in the 16-24 age range (57.5%), while only 25.0% of those 65 and older reported speaking Basque. Ten years later, the sociolinguistic survey showed that in 2016 of all people aged 16 and above in

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