Spain’s Basques form 202km human chain to call for independence vote

Tens of thousands of people hold hands to
demand referendum

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The protest, organised by Basque separatist group Gure Esku Dago
(In Our Own Hands), stretched from Donostia (known in Spanish as
San Sebastian) to the Basque parliament in Gasteiz.

Reuters says that “while most from the Basque
Country, which already has a high level of self-determination and,
like Catalonia, has its own language and culture, do not support
independence, many believe the population should be given the right
to vote”.

Earlier this year the Basque nationalist terror group ETA
announced it was formally disbanding.

Calls for a vote on Basque nationality will provide a early test
for Spain’s new Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, who ousted his predecessor
Mariano Rajoy in a vote of no confidence which he narrowly won
thanks to support from Basque and Catalan nationalists.

Rajoy was roundly criticised for his heavy-handed approach to
last year’s Catalan independence referendum which saw police clash
with protesters.

The ballot on Catalonia’s separation from Spain and consequent
unilateral declaration of independence by the regional government
prompted Madrid to take control of the region and arrest the civil
servants involved in the vote.

Sanchez will be looking to avoid a similar showdown in the
Basque region which already enjoys relative autonomy. However, he
is expected to take a similar line to his predecessor and maintain
that any ballot on regional independence is illegal under the
Spanish constitution.