Catalonia referendum: Crisis sparks independence hopes in separatist Basque region
The growing tension between Catalonia and Madrid could provide the Basque Country to resume its decades-long fight for independence from the Spanish central government. Professor Uriarte told Deutsche Welle: "Calls for greater freedom, more democracy, for direct participation such as a referendum could become louder. "Even people who are not Basque nationalists could become radicalised and want their voices to be heard." The Catalan referendum has sparked new hopes in the Basque population of a possible independence from Madrid.
GETTY/DEUTSCHE WELLE Prof Uriarte said Catalonia could push Basque citizens to radicalise to gain independence
Newsagent Isabel Lopategi said: "It depends on how things go in Catalonia but it could be good for us because we want the same as they do. Things need to change." Nerea Muñoz, a student in Bilbao, said Catalonia gave the Basque Country the chance to reclaim their will for freedom. She added: "These days the Catalan independence movement is stronger than the Basque one. "But now, when we express solidarity with the people of Catalonia, we also stress that we want independence." The Spanish Basque Country has been the hope of several pro-independence movements over the years, with the Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA) paramilitary group taking up arms to separate the region from Madrid killing 820 people and injuring thousands since 1968.