Sortu

A political party in Spanish Basque Country and Navarre, although it also has a presence in the French Basque Country. Founded in February 2011, it ideologically aligns itself with the current of Basque nationalism known as the abertzale left, and since its inception has been considered the successor to the outlawed Batasuna. It draws on the experience and political capital of the abertzale left historically organized in other parties such as Herri Batasuna, Euskal Herritarrok, and Batasuna, taking as its foundation the Zutik Euskal Herria resolution. It is a member of the Euskal Herria Bildu federation of parties. In the French Basque Country, it is part of Euskal Herria Bai.

Their objectives, according to their presentations, are "a free, socialist, feminist, and Basque-speaking Basque Country," as well as breaking with the current "capitalist and patriarchal" system and building a completely different society based on participatory democracy. Regarding Europe, the objective is "to change the current Europe based on capitalist interests and make it much more humane." In their presentation, they stated that their paths forward are "the constitution of a Basque state within the European framework," "channeling the confidence of the political space of the Basque nationalist left," and contributing to "political and social alliances that place sovereignty and independence at the forefront of Basque society."

Two years passed between their presentation and their founding congress due to the legal process involved in their registration. On March 23, 2011, the Special Chamber of Article 61 of the Supreme Court upheld the appeals of the State Attorney's Office and the Public Prosecutor's Office and denied Sortu's registration in the Register of Political Parties, considering it the successor to Batasuna and not separate from the terrorist organization ETA. The decision was adopted by a majority of nine votes to seven, unlike previous decisions of the Special Chamber of Article 61, which had been unanimous. Finally, on June 20, 2012, Sortu was legalized by the Constitutional Court, by just one vote, which considered that the Supreme Court's ruling violated the "right of association" of Sortu's members in its aspect of "freedom to create political parties" enshrined in Article 22 of the Constitution.

Secretary-General: Maider Etxebarria Akaiturri (31 January 2011 – 23 February 2013),

President of the National Council: Hasier Arraiz (23 February 2013 – 2 July 2016),

Secretary-General: Arnaldo Otegi (1 March 2016 – 23 September 2017), Arkaitz Rodríguez (23 September 2017 – 24 January 2026), Coordinator-General: Xabi Iraola (24 January 2026 – present).