The newly elected Basque government may be tempted to use the lure of secessionism as a diversion from the region’s economic problems

Last week saw the first elections to be held in the Basque Country since the end of ETA’s armed separatist campaign last year. Alejandro Quiroga reflects on the results of the election, which saw the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) gain the largest number of seats in Parliament. Although the PNV’s leadership do not view a referendum on Basque independence as a priority, they may be tempted to promote secessionism as a solution to the Basque Country’s economic problems should the current crisis deepen.