Overview

• Sortu capped a months-long campaign with a mass event in Pamplona’s Anaitasuna pavilion, drawing several thousand supporters to honor Juan Paredes ‘Txiki’ and Ángel Otaegi on the 50th anniversary of their executions.
• Sortu leader Arkaitz Rodríguez called for independence and a right to decide for Euskal Herria, framed the Transition as a “transacción,” and urged Madrid to recognize Spain’s plurinational reality.
• The Pamplona ceremony featured charged symbolism, including a coffin bearing the images of Txiki and Otaegi, NO-DO footage, ikurriñas and Palestinian flags, and concluded with attendees singing ‘Eusko Gudariak.’
• Parallel commemorations ran from September 25 to 28 in Barcelona, Cerdanyola, Zarautz and Mondragón, where two masked participants burned Spanish and French flags during a separate act.
• Victims’ associations such as Fundación Buesa and Covite denounced the tributes, the Basque government distanced itself, and debate resurfaced over the ‘victim–victimario’ status of Txiki and Otaegi, who were recognized as victims in 2012 but linked to serious crimes.