He was a nationalist and a Christian Democrat, considered during the period one of the most powerful politicians in the Basque Autonomous Community, making strategic decisions for the party he led from 1986 onwards.

He spent some time in Frankfurt-am-Main preparing a thesis on German Christian Democracy and studying Theology.

In 1969, he joined the clandestine Basque Nationalist Party, mentored by the pre-war leader Juan de Ajuriaguerra.

During his rule the PNV maintained its dominant position in the political life of the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country.

[4] He had a reciprocal admiration for the Italian Christian Democrat leaders Francesco Cossiga and Giulio Andreotti.