Carlos Garaikoetxea
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Carlos Garaikoetxea Urriza (Born in Pamplona, June 2, 1938) is a former Basque politician. He became the second elected Lehendakari (President of the Basque Country), after José Antonio Aguirre, who had held that office in 1936-60.
He was a leading figure in the Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ-PNV) of Navarre in the period 1975-80. He was elected Lehendakari in 1980 and reelected in 1984.
During his presidency the basque statute of authonomy was born and developed. As Lehendakari inaugurated the emission of Basque Television (EiTB) on 31 December 1982. He also created the Basque Health Public System (Osakidetza) and Ertzaintza, the Basque police service, which was directed by his close collaborator Juan Porres Azkona since 1982 until 1986. During the floods of August 1983 he managed both Basque and Spanish emergency services in order to solve the resulting problems. The economy recovered through the revision of the Basque "Concierto Economómico" and the Basque Culture and Heritage was restored in order to ensure use of the Basque language in Basque society.[citation needed]
In 1985 nevertheless, major divergences with the direction of his party, (law of Historical Territories, expulsion of all the organization in Navarre and Vitoria-Gasteiz) created a major split inside EAJ-PNV and Garaikoetxea, leading the minority faction (with greater support in Gipuzkoa, Navarre and Vitoria-Gasteiz, but not in Biscay nor the Araban countryside), he was replaced by José Antonio Ardanza in 1985.
Soon after the breach inside the party was complete and Eusko Alkartasuna was founded, with Garaikotxea becoming its president and candidate to the Basque Presidency, role that he held until 1999, when he retired from politics.
He was elected as deputy in the Basque Parliament in all successive elections until 1998. He was also a Member of the European Parliament from 1987 to 1991.
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| Preceded by Jesús María de Leizaola |
Lehendakari (Basque President) 1979-1985 |
Succeeded by José Antonio Ardanza |
| Preceded by Manuel Ibarrondo |
President of Basque Solidarity (EA) 1986-1999 |
Succeeded by Begoña Errazti |
| Preceded by Jaak Vandemeulebroucke |
President of the European Free Alliance 1990-1991 |
Succeeded by Jaak Vandemeulebroucke |
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