abertzale left
{{Other uses|Abertzale}}
{{Short description|Form of left-wing nationalism among Basques}}
{{Expand Basque|Ezker abertzalea|date=January 2024}}
{{Expand Spanish|Izquierda abertzale|topic=gov|date=January 2024}}
File:Otegi.ogv (2009), a leading figure of the Basque nationalist left]]
Abertzale left ({{langx|eu|Ezker abertzalea}}, {{langx|es|Izquierda abertzale}}; {{literal translation|patriotic left}}) is a term used to refer to the parties or organizations of the Basque nationalist/separatist left, stretching from democratic socialism to communism.
This leftist character is highlighted in contrast to the traditional jeltzale nationalismJeltzale comes from JEL, acronym of Jaungoikoa Eta Lagizarrak, which literally means "God and old laws" and refers to the political thought of Sabino Arana. represented by the Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ-PNV), a conservative and Christian-democratic party, which has long been the largest in the Basque Country. The first examples of abertzale parties are the Basque Nationalist Republican Party (EAAE-PRNV), active from 1909 to 1913,Cecilia Arrozarena, El roble y la ceiba. Historia de los vascos en Cuba, {{ISBN|84-8136-357-X}}, Txalaparta, 2003 and the Basque Nationalist Action (EAE-ANV), active from 1930 to 2008.Santiago de Pablo, [http://www.elcorreodigital.com/vizcaya/prensa/20070414/politica/partido-historia_20070414.html Un partido con historia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202142726/http://www.elcorreodigital.com/vizcaya/prensa/20070414/politica/partido-historia_20070414.html |date=2009-02-02 }}, El Correo, 14 April 2007. They represented the non-confessional Basque nationalist references when ETA was formed in 1959 by younger generations. Ezker abertzalea (or, in Spanish, izquierda abertzale) is notably used when referring to the leftist-nationalist environment of Batasuna, an outlawed political party.Jesús María Casquete Badallo, [http://www.bakeaz.org/es/articulos/mostrar/432-abertzale-pero-q Abertzale sí pero, ¿quién dijo que de izquierda?] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321071820/http://www.bakeaz.org/es/articulos/mostrar/432-abertzale-pero-q |date=2012-03-21 }}, El Viejo Topo, ISSN 0210-2706, n. 268, 2010, pp. 14-19.
More recently, in 1986, a left-wing splinter group of EAJ-PNV led by Carlos Garaikoetxea formed a new social-democratic party, Basque Solidarity (EA). After ETA's permanent ceasefire (2010), EA engaged in a convergence process with the scattered historic Basque nationalist left closer to ETA. In 2011–2012, they joined forces in forming a succession of coalitions: Bildu, Amaiur and, finally, EH Bildu. A group of former members of Batasuna were identified by the media as independents of izquierda abertzale.{{cite web|url=http://www.eitb.com/en/news/politics/detail/748538/basque-leftwing-nationalists-launch-new-coalition-party-amaiur/|title=Basque left-wing nationalists launch new coalition party Amaiur|last=EiTB|website=www.eitb.com|accessdate=15 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111105061112/http://www.eitb.com/en/news/politics/detail/748538/basque-leftwing-nationalists-launch-new-coalition-party-amaiur/|archive-date=2011-11-05|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.gara.net/paperezkoa/20110915/290797/es/Izquierda-abertzale-EA-Alternatiba-Aralar-cierran-contenidos-pacto-20-N|title=Izquierda abertzale, EA, Alternatiba y Aralar cierran los contenidos del pacto del 20-N - GARA|website=www.gara.net|accessdate=15 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104053645/http://www.gara.net/paperezkoa/20110915/290797/es/Izquierda-abertzale-EA-Alternatiba-Aralar-cierran-contenidos-pacto-20-N|archive-date=4 November 2011|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://ccaa.elpais.com/ccaa/2012/06/09/paisvasco/1339264728_612106.html|title=Una profesora se perfila como aspirante a 'lehendakari' por EHB|first=Unai|last=Morán|newspaper=El País |date=10 June 2012|publisher=|accessdate=15 July 2017}}