Collision Course

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For three-and-a-half hours last week, Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero sat down and talked with the President of the Basque region, Juan José Ibarretxe — something that Zapatero's predecessor, José María Aznar, refused to do during his last four years in office. But the chat only confirmed that they had nothing to talk about. In late December, the Basque regional parliament approved Ibarretxe's controversial proposal for a "free association" between the Basque Country and Spain. Under the plan, the wealthy northeastern region and its 2 million inhabitants would have an essentially separate judicial system, a separate representative to the European Union, and "a singular regime of political relations" with Madrid — more like those of a foreign country than a constituent part. The plan is close enough to outright secession to conjure up visions of Spain's dissolution, and sparked talk of a constitutional crisis.

So while Ibarretxe came to the Moncloa Palace in hopes of negotiating, Zapatero would have none of that. The government insists the Basque parliament has no standing to decide fundamental constitutional issues, and that Ibarretxe's proposal "leads to a dead end." Indeed, when the Spanish parliament votes on the plan in the coming months, it is certain to reject it. Ibarretxe vows to put the question to the Basque people in a referendum, though only once the separatist terrorist group ETA declares a cease-fire. "If there are no negotiations," he says, "I'll consult the Basque people."

That move could backfire, if it ever even happens. Separatist sentiment was on display when thousands marched on Jan. 8 in Bilbao, but a poll last week showed Basques oppose the Ibarretxe Plan by a thin margin of 36%-34%. Many residents have close ties to Spain, and most don't speak Basque. A majority of 59%, however, thinks the government should allow a referendum to go ahead.

Before it comes to that, the Basque government faces regional elections in the spring. José Blanco, Secretary of Zapatero's Socialist Party, hopes local party candidates can do well enough against Ibarretxe's Basque Nationalist Party to head off a collision with Madrid. And the Socialists say they can fine-tune relations with the Basque Country without resorting to a constitutional amendment. "We are firm, but that has nothing to do with being strident," says Blanco. It's clear that the previous government's tight-lipped approach didn't make the Basque problem go away. Plenty of Spaniards worry that talking won't either.