Abertzale left

This leftist character is highlighted in contrast to the traditional jeltzale nationalism[1] represented by the Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ-PNV), a conservative and Christian-democratic party, which has long been the largest in the Basque Country.

[3] They represented the non-confessional Basque nationalist references when ETA was formed in 1959 by younger generations.

Ezker abertzalea (or, in Spanish, izquierda abertzale) is notably used when referring to the leftist-nationalist environment of Batasuna, an outlawed political party.

[4] More recently, in 1986, a left-wing splinter group of EAJ-PNV led by Carlos Garaikoetxea formed a new social-democratic party, Basque Solidarity (EA).

A group of former members of Batasuna were identified by the media as independents of izquierda abertzale.

A table with seven steps of people with a banner ezker abertzalea in the background and the flags of Navarre on the left and the Basque Country on the right. — Meeting in 2009

Interview with Arnaldo Otegi (2009), a leading figure of the Basque nationalist left