In two separate strings of 1931–1942 and 1951–1957 he headed the regional party organization in Navarre; he remained one of key nationwide Carlist politicians from the late 1910s till the early 1970s.

[10] His younger brother and lifetime political partner, Ignacio, became an iconic Pamplona figure, expert and the moving spirit behind numerous provincial feasts, promoter of Basque folk culture and a politician himself.

Joaquín (Joaquíncho) was active in the board of El Pensamiento Navarro;[14] Javier was director of Archivo General de Navarra and is author of historical and historiographical works related to the province,[15] while Cruz Maria directed B-class movies.

[22] Following the example of paternal Arraiza cousins,[23] Baleztena commenced his public career in local municipal elections and was successfully voted a Carlist concejal to the Pamplona ayuntamiento in the first decade of the 20th century,[24] re-elected also afterwards, at least in 1913.

About the same time, also influenced by his kinsfolk, he got engaged in Sociedad Protectora "La Conciliación", one of the first Catholic trade unions in Navarre, and became active in its Junta Directiva.

Since Victor Pradera, who previously represented the party in Cortes, joined the secessionists,[26] in the 1919 campaign Baleztena took his place in the Pamplona district and was successfully voted into the parliament.

Though initially the coup of Primo de Rivera was welcomed by Navarrese Carlists,[37] it soon turned out that the dictatorship, apart from terminating Baleztena's parliamentarian career, sent the movement into the period of lethargy.

Deprived of usual means of mobilization like elections and unable to take part in political game, provincial Traditionalists focused on the Baleztena-cherished foral issues.

This approach soon set Carlism on collision course with the centralist policy of the dictator,[38] especially following the new municipal legislation of 1924 and new Convenio economico of 1927, deemed incompatible with fuerista traditions.

[39] Relations with the regime went from bad to worse when Jaimistas refused to amalgamate in Union Patriotica, to join the Asamblea Nacional Consultiva,[40] and when none of their personalities entered the primoderiverista militia, Somatén.

[41] While administrative sanctions harassed the movement[42] it got increasingly paralyzed; the provincial Carlist leadership – apart from Baleztena including Gabino Martínez, Joaquín Beunza Redín and Tomás Domínguez Arévalo – were losing their grip on the party.

[48] The Navarrese branch of the movement was not disinclined to taking part in "controlled" elections, intended by general Berenguer for early 1931, though it was Ignacio not Joaquín Baleztena mentioned as a candidate;[49] fall of the monarchy and proclamation of the republic cancelled these plans.

Before the first electoral campaign to Cortes Constituentes in 1931, Joaquín along his brother worked to forge a Carlist-Basque alliance,[50] though PNV leaders accused him of little genuine commitment to the common vasco-navarrese cause.

[53] As a local party leader he could have boasted success: Navarre was the only province in Spain where centre-right gained victory with 63% of votes,[54] though he had to concede defeat in the capital Pamplona.

[60] Shaky alliance with the Basques fell apart in 1933, as the Carlists, discouraged by moving religious issues from autonomous to central portfolio, cooled down in their support for a vasco-navarrese autonomy;[61] finally the Navarros preferred to stay out.

In the spring of 1936 Fal put in motion the plans for a stand-alone Traditionalist uprising, while Baleztena and the Navarros preferred to act in liaison with the military conspirators.

Faced with a perspective of Carlist amalgamation into a "partido unico" Baleztena formed ranks with Rodezno, Berasain and other Navarrese, pushing for compliance with the military pressure.

The successes recorded were saving El Pensamiento Navarro from amalgamation in the Francoist propaganda,[90] setting up a Carlist outpost of the Principe de Viana institute[91] and a number of local administrative appointments;[92] the cost was electing Rodezno vice-president of Diputación Foral in 1940.

[100] Decomposition of Navarrese Carlism continued in the late 1940s, demonstrated by the Pamplona riots of 1945,[101] pro-Juanist stance of El Pensamiento Navarro[102] and different factions competing for local administrative posts.

[104] Among overall disarray and increasing calls[105] for more active attitude of the claimant, in 1951 Don Javier appointed a new Junta Regional, with Joaquín Baleztena regaining the Navarrese presidency.

[123] Still member of the Navarrese Junta, Baleztena stayed loyal to Don Javier and lambasted the 1957 Acto de Estoril,[124] though he maintained independent line in terms of both personalities[125] and strategy.