Banning of Basque party from local elections ‘backward step’ – Sinn Féin

THE Spanish Supreme Court’s decision in a vote of 9-7 to bar new Basque pro-independence party Sortu from contesting May’s local elections has been criticised by Sinn Féin Assembly member Alex Maskey as a backward step and a denial of fundamental democracy.

Sortu has publicly declared that it rejects all political violence but the Supreme Court voted by a narrow majority to accept the Spanish Government’s case that that Sortu is a repackaged version of the outlawed party Batasuna and does not really reject violence.

Sortu can appeal the decision to the Constitutional Court, the highest court in Spain, but if the ruling does not come before April 18^th election deadline then Sortu won't be able to stand in the vote on May 22nd.

Sinn Féin’s Alex Maskey, who has made frequent trips with Sinn Féin MEP Bairbre de Brún and other activists to help the Basque peace process, said:

The decision not to allow the Basque political party, Sortu, to contest elections is the wrong decision by the Spanish Government.

It is a retrograde step in the search for a democratic solution to the conflict in the Basque Country.

This decision does nothing the encourage the political momentum nor does it reflect the recent efforts in a search for a lasting solution to the conflict.

What we need to see happen is the Spanish authorities realising this opportunity and promoting inclusiveness and democracy. The current policy being pursued of closing down space for dialogue and representation through the  banning political parties is a denial of fundamental rights.