Egunkaria

The founders initially expected, when launched in 1990, to reach a circulation of 8,000 to 15,000 copies and 40,000 potential readers,[1] a goal later achieved,[2] later growing into a widely respected publication[citation needed] as well as a meeting point for the Basque speaking community.

According to the incumbent Spanish Minister of Interior Ángel Acebes, "the closure aims at defending the freedom of expression and thinking in their language".

In two days hundreds of thousands of people marched in San Sebastian against the closure of Egunkaria, in the biggest demonstration of the Basque Country in decades.

Aznar's government refused to launch an investigation, instead initiating prosecution against Egunkaria's director, claiming that by denouncing torture he was allegedly "collaborating with ETA".

The newspaper was effectively forced into liquidation as its assets were sold off by court-appointed administrators, meaning that regardless of the outcome of the case, Egunkaria had ceased to exist.

The closure of Egunkaria resulted in grass-roots indignation,[8] with widespread criticism coming from different circles (Basque regional government, reputed writers, Spanish journalists,[5] etc.)