Women in the Basque Nationalist Party in Francoist Spain were involved in leadership positions from an early period. The Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) was founded prior to the Second Spanish Republic in Bilbao, as a conservative Roman Catholic organization. They initially tried to be neutral during the Civil War, but later more openly opposed Nationalist forces. This led to repression and investigation after the war of women PNV members, and wives and daughters of male PNV members. Emakume Abertzale Batza, PNV's women political section, was operated in exile in this early period.
Spain's crippled economy of the 1940s made it difficult for men and women to be involved in PNV's nationalist struggles. Women at home while husbands engaged in clandestine operations were often on the brink of poverty. The 1950s would usher in an era where Basque nationalist support was split between PNV and ETA. Nationalist support would wax and wane in this period, responding to actions of the regime. Women supporting PNV often had to seek work outside the home, in opposition to the traditionalist view that they should remain in the home. Family connections would play a critical role in spreading PNV's nationalist agenda.
Following the death of Franco in 1975, PNV could operate in the open. Women, disavowing extremists like ETA, supported centrists parties like PNV at the ballot box, helping them to win 11 of 21 seats in the first regional elections in the post-Franco era.
Background After the Carlist Wars, the abolition of the fueros and the boom of industrialization that brought with it a strong immigration and a great change in a short time for the Biscayan society, Sabino Arana interpreted the romantic nationalism echoing the European nationalist current, and founded the Basque Nationalist Party in 1895 with the aim of achieving the independence of "Euzkadi" (the Basque territories) and founding a Basque State. Until the twentieth century, it would only have a presence in the city of Bilbao. The party maintained a conflictive relationship with Carlism, since Basque nationalists accused the party of being "Spanish," and Carlists, on the other hand, accused the accused party of being for a "separatist" and "unpatriotic" Basque nationalism.
Since 1932, EAJ-PNV celebrates on Easter the Aberri Eguna 'Homeland Day'. Also, since 1977, the party celebrates Alderdi Eguna 'Party Day'. The party's social offices are called , of which there are over 200 throughout the world.
During the Spanish Civil War, the autonomous government avoided chaos in Biscay and western Gipuzkoa, and took the reins of the coordination and provision of military resistance. On occupation of the territories loyal to the Republic, the Francoist repression was focused on leftists, but Basque nationalists were also targeted, facing prison, humiliation, and death. As the rebel troops approached Biscay, the Carlist press in Pamplona even called for the extermination of Basque nationalists.
José Antonio Aguirre, the party leader, became in October 1936 the first lendakari (Basque president) of the wartime multipartite Basque Government, ruling the unconquered parts of Biscay and Gipuzkoa. In April 1937, the city of Guernica was bombed by German airplanes. Jose Antonio de Aguirre stated that "the German planes bombed us with a brutality that had never been seen before for two and a half hours." Pablo Picasso made a painting in remembrance of the massacre named after the city that year.The PNV condemns ETA and other terrorist groups as they believed it interfered with the political process. Statements by the then President of the PNV, JJImaz: "The terrorist and mafia practices against businessmen, professionals, workers and their families demand a clear social condemnation (...) The victims of this practice should know that they have the support of the immense majority of Basque society."Declaration of the PNV against terrorism after the attack of ETA in the parking T4 of Barajas Airport on 39 December 2006, that cost the lives of two Ecuadorian citizens who were in the place: "In the first place, we want to express from the Basque Nationalist Party our absolute condemnation and repudiation, for this attack that, according to all indications, has been the work of ETA." PNV has been the victim of attacks by ETA and the Basque nationalist left radical.Attacks from ETA supporters on PNV: /ETA puts in sight members of the PNV and the Basque Government: In the democratic transition, PNV was accused by the media on a large number of occasions of having maintained an ambiguous position regarding the action against the ETA environment."PNV-ETA, relación envenenada", recensión de PNV y ETA: Historia de una relación imposible de El Mundo, de Sagrario Morán ETA has threatened and tried to attack PNV leaders and Jeltzales headquarters have been attacked on several occasions.Radicales atacan con un artefacto explosivo un batzoki en BarakaldoAtacan la sede del PNV en la localidad vizcaína de Gordexola con un artefacto explosivoEl balance del terrorismo callejero entre el 20 y el 25 de mayo arroja 11 ataques contra batzokis del PNV, la vivienda de una edil socialista en Azpeitia y la casa del pueblo en Aretxabaleta (El Correo - 26)
History The regime's relation to the Basque language and Basque nationalism has three periods. The first was from the fall of Bilbao in 1937 to the mid-1950s, and it involved active suppression. The second phase from 1955 to 1975. In this period, the government accepted they could not fully suppress Basque language usage, and consequently became more tolerant of it. The third phase was from 1975 to 1982. Starting before the death of Franco, this period started a period of reconciliation around the Basque language and Basque culture.
1937–1955 (active suppression) Historically, the Basque country family structure has required men leave the home for long periods of time for work. This could be tending sheep or going out to sea. Consequently, women were often left in charge of the day-to-day running of the Basque home. Fathers were the authority figures, while mothers did all the work. This created an opportunity for women to become involved in PNV, with less resistance than in other parts of Spain. Women's involvement with the party also made it less welcome of violence than their counterparts in ETA.
During the 1930s, PNV was largely pro-Catholic and anti-fascist. The Spanish Civil War started in July 1936. Immediately in areas controlled by Francoist forces, women's activism was crushed. By April 1939 when the Spanish Civil War concluded, Franco had forcibly made the Basque Country and Basque culture part of the "great household" of a united Spain. During the Civil War, PNV was split in its position because nationalists views and Catholic orientation. Despite initial statements indicating support for the Second Republic, not every local section was willing to express support for armed resistance to Nationalist forces. Early on in cities like Guipúzcoa, the party tried to be neutral and mediate conflict between both sides. In cities like Vizcaya and Bilbao, PNV organized militias in support of Republicans.Enciclopedia Auñamendi CAMPIÓN JAIME-BON, Arturo
Following Franco's victory over the forces of the Second Republic, his government ruled militarily as if they were an occupying force. Consequently, this resulted in many people inside Spain feeling alien inside their own land. Franco supported this attitude, saying on 3 April 1939, "Spaniards, alert, peace is not a comfortable and cowardly repose against history. The blood of those who fell for the Homeland does not allow for forgetfulness, sterility or betrayal Spanish. Be alert. Spain is still at war against all enemies from within or from abroad."
The Basque Country in the early Franco period saw many people being subjected to mass arrest and imprisonment, along with many people being killed. The regime engaged in an active suppression of all nationalist expressions across Spain, impacting Basques, Catalans and others. National flags were prohibited. All languages by Spanish were banned. Basque cultural symbols were replaced by those of Spanish National Catholicism.
Following the Nationalist seizing control of the area, women found themselves being investigated by the new regime. In Biscay, over 300 different women were investigated in this period. Many were also imprisoned. They were subject to scrutiny because people accused them of being involved with or having sympathies for groups like PCE, UGT, Partido Nacionalista Vasco (PNV), and Emakume Abertzaleen Batzak.
PNV's women section, Emakume Abertzale Batza, was created in April 1922 in Bilbao and closed in September of the following year. It was re-created 23 June 1931. Following the war, most of its members were forced into exile France, Belgium, England and Catalonia, where the organization was reconstituted and would never return to Spain. Many Emakume Abertzale Batza women stood out from other Republicans in that they were Catholic and celebrated mass in refugee camps. Their first board in exile included President Concepción de Azaola, Vice President María Teresa Salcedo, Secretary Angeles Zuazagoitia, Deputy Secretary Martina Bernal de Azurmendi, Treasurer Garbiñe de Urresti, Deputy Treasurer María Elosua de Irizar, and members Alava de Miremón, María Olondo de Etxebarria, Miren Irujo, and Miren de Guerricagoitia. The French group was involved with charity work, worship activities and propaganda efforts. They also encouraged other Basques to subscribe to PNV publications. The women also constructed two chapels in refugee camp hospitals. They also organized a Basque language course. They tried to help other Basque women find accommodation in Catalonia. They provided mail networks for clandestine PNV activities. Basque PNV women in exile in Argentina created a branch of the organization on 16 August 1938 called Acción Nacionalista Vasca. Women involved in the initial organizing of the group included Amelia Arteche de Jáuregui, Amelia G. De Menchaca, María Begoña de Orbea como Tesorera y Angelita de Bilbao, Arantzazu de Barrena, Ikerne de Kortazar, Antonia de Amorrortu and Miren de Muxika. Their goal was to keep Basque culture and language alive among exiles in the country.