Basque Nationalist Party

A Basque nationalist and regionalist political party. The party is located in the centre of the political spectrum. It has been described as Christian democratic, with social democratic and conservative-liberal factions.

The EAJ-PNV was founded by Sabino Arana in 1895, which makes it the second oldest existent political party in Spain, after the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE). The EAJ-PNV is the largest Basque nationalist party, having led the Basque Government uninterruptedly since 1979, except for a brief period between 2009 and 2012. In Navarre, it is part of the coalition Geroa Bai, which is currently a junior partner of the PSOE in the Navarrese regional government. In Spain at large, the party has been supporting current Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, a member of the PSOE, since 2019. Currently a member of the European Democratic Party, EAJ-PNV was previously a member of the European Free Alliance from 1999 to 2004. Earlier it had been affiliated with the European People's Party and the Christian Democrat International (from which it was expelled in 2000).

The party operates in all the territories comprising the Basque Country: the Basque Autonomous Community, Navarre and Treviño in Spain, and in the French Basque Country. It also has delegations in dozens of foreign nations, specifically those with a major presence of Basque immigrants. Its current chairman is Andoni Ortuzar. The party's youth wing is Euzko Gaztedi. The EAJ-PNV's social offices are called batzokis, of which there are over 200 throughout the world. Since 1932, the party celebrates Aberri Eguna (Homeland Day) on Easter. Also, since 1977, it celebrates Alderdi Eguna (Party Day).

The EAJ-PNV has ideologically evolved over time. The party has struggled with internal infighting between moderate pragmatic and radical separatist factions for much of its history. The party currently defines itself as a "basque, democratic, participative, plural, secular and humanist" party.

During its early years under the command of Sabino Arana, the party's ideology was based on a Basque nationalism fundamentally characterised by an essentialist conception of the Basque nation, Catholic integrism, notions of racial purity and opposition to liberalism, socialism and industrialization. The party initially sought independence only for the province of Biscay, but it started calling for the independence of all seven Basque provinces in Spain and France soon after. The party's ideological evolution under Arana has been divided into three stages: a radical nationalist one from 1893 to 1898; a more moderate and pragmatic phase from 1898 to 1902; and a pro-Spanish shift that ended in 1903 with Arana's death.

President: Sabino Arana (1895 – 1903), Ángel Zabala Ozamiz (1903 – 1906), Santiago Alda, Alipio Larrauri, Antonio Arroyo, Vicente Larrinaga and Eduardo Arriaga (Deputation) (1906 – 1908), Luis de Arana y Goiri (1908 – 1915), Ramón Bikuña (1915 – 1917), Gorgonio de Rentería (1917 – 1920), Ignacio Rotaeche (EJB-CNV) (1920 – 1930), Juan de Eguileor (EAJ-PNV-Aberri) (1921 – 1923), Alipio Larrauri (EAJ-PNV-Aberri) (1923 – 1928), Ceferino de Jemein (EAJ-PNV-Aberri) (1928 – 1930), Ramón Bikuña (1930 – 1932), Luis de Arana y Goiri (1932 – 1933), Jesús Doxandabaratz (1933 – 1934), Isaac López Mendizábal (1934 – 1935), Doroteo Ciáurriz (1935 – 1951), Juan Ajuriaguerra (1951 – 1957), Jose Agerre (1957 – 1962), Joseba Rezola, Jesús Solaun and Ignacio Unceta (1962 – 1971), Mikel Isasi (1971 – 1975), Ignacio Unceta (1975 – 1977), Carlos Garaikoetxea (1977 – 1980), Xabier Arzalluz (1980 – 1984), Román Sudupe (1984 – 1985), Jesús Insausti (1985 – 1987), Xabier Arzalluz (1987 – 2004), Josu Jon Imaz (2004 – 2008), Iñigo Urkullu (2008 – 2013), Andoni Ortuzar (2013 – 2025), Aitor Esteban (2025 – present)