ETA-VI initially enjoyed substantially more popular support, and in 1971 the dispirited Juan Jose Etxabe stepped down as leader of ETA-V to retire from armed struggle.
In 1973, they kidnapped wealthy business owner Felipe Huarte, whom they likewise demanded to rehire laid-off workers, and this time received a considerable ransom payment (50 million pesetas).
[6] During the leadership of Txikia, an ETA commando was sent to Madrid to begin planning a kidnapping operation of Francisco Franco's heir apparent, Admiral Luis Carrero Blanco.
Contrary to popular belief, an operation against Luis Carrero Blanco was already being planned when Mendizabal died, and Comando Txikia was not created specifically to avenge his death.
Ultimately, the commando assassinated Luis Carrero Blanco in December 1973, after his nomination as President of Spain made the original kidnapping plan unfeasible.