[1] When the Spanish Communist Party (Partido Comunista Español), PCE) was formed as a national organization in the spring of 1935 Ramón Ormazábal settled in Biscay.

He was the director of the journal Euzkadi Roja (Red Basque Country), the organ of the Spanish Communist Party.

A year later he escaped from prison in Valencia and went into exile, first in the United States and then in South America, where he became a communist organizer.

He was replaced by Roberto Lertxundi as secretary general of the EPK at the party's third congress, which was held in the spring of 1977 in Bilbao.

Lertxundi, a physician and former member of the armed Euzkadi Ta Azkatasuna (ETA) group, was thought to be more in touch with the electorate.