Narrow election loss for Basque moderates

Regional elections proved disappointing on the 1 March 2009 for Spain's Socialists, who lost control of Galicia and failed to take control of the Basque region, where Nationalists won 30 seats but failed to gain an outright victory.

Socialist Patxi Lopez was expected to become the head of a minority government in the Basque Country, May 2009 It was noted that this was the first time since a regional parliament was set up in 1980 that a non-nationalist headed the region.

France24, 5.5.09: Socialist to lead first non-nationalist Basque government http://www.france24.com/en/20090505-basque-parliament-election-nationalist-head-government-socialist-patxi-lopez

BBC News, 5.5.09: Basques set for landmark handover http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8032990.stm

BBC News, 2.3.09: Mixed results in Spain elections http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7917221.stm

Deutsche Welle, 2.3.09: Spaniards Vote Amid Economic Crisis, ETA Violence http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4064851,00.html

France24, 2.3.09: Socialists lose power to the right in Galicia http://www.france24.com/en/20090301-exit-polls-point-basque-nationalist-party-win-spain-zapatero-socialists

IHT Europe, 2.3.09: Vote could oust Basque Nationalists in Spain http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/03/02/europe/02spain-cnd.php

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