Carlos Garaikoetxea Urriza

Carlos Garaikoetxea Urriza (2 June 1938 – 4 May 2026) was a Basque Spanish politician who served as Lehendakari of the Basque Government from 1979 to 1985, the first following the Spanish transition to democracy. Elected as a member of the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV), he presided over the party from 1977 to 1980. After leaving the PNV, he founded and presided over Eusko Alkartasuna from 1987 to 1999 and served as a member of the European Parliament from 1987 to 1991.

Early life and career Carlos Garaikoetxea Urriza was born on 2 June 1938 in Pamplona, Navarre, to Juan Garaicoechea and Dolores Urriza, both natives of the Navarrese mountains. His father was a Carlist sympathizer and spoke Basque, whereas his mother's inability to do so prevented Garaikoetxea from learning the language. He studied at schools of the Marist Brothers and Piarists, where, aged 12–13, he self-learned Basque. During those years he became interested in Basque nationalism through the reading of books about Arturo Campion and Basque history.

Upon completing his baccalaureate, he attended the University of Deusto and earned two licentiates in economics and law.

Political career Garaikoetxea joined the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) in 1975 and became president of the Navarrese Executive Branch of the PNV (Napar Buru Batzar). In March 1977, he was elected president of the Central Executive Branch of the PNV (Euzkadi Buru Batzar, EBB) in the first assembly of the party after the death of Francisco Franco. The first Navarrese leader of the PNV, his election was credited to his origin and charisma. He failed to be elected to the Congress of Deputies in the June 1977 general election as the leader of the Navarrese Autonomist Coalition that included the PNV.

On 19 December 1984, Garaikoetxea announced his pending resignation as Lehendakari due to the loss of support from his own party. Major divergences had arisen between him and the now president of the EBB Arzalluz over the Law of Historical Territories and the expulsion of the Navarrese branch of the party. He was replaced by José Antonio Ardanza in 1985.