Martxelo DIAZ

DONOSTIA

A group of people belonging to different social sectors presented the Herritarren Zerrenda (HZ) initiative in the Miramar Palace in Donostia. They hope to go forward under the name HZ for the elections to the European Parliament on June 13, with the aim of showing Europe that Euskal Herria is a European nation. In the name of all those gathered in the open assembly in Donostia, the Bizkaian writer Sonia Gonz�ez and the Navarren internationalist, Sabino Cuadra, read a statement in which they emphasised that Basque citizens not only have the right, but also need to participate in the elections to the European Parliament, because, as they point out, the model for the building of the new European Union will condition the future of Euskal Herria. Herritarren Zerrenda's presentation document sees it as an historic opportunity the possibility that Basque citizens go to the polls on the same day. We believe that the coming elections offer us an opportunity that ought to be taken advantage of to show Europe that Euskal Herria is a European nation, those behind HZ emphasise. The promoters of Herritarren Zerrenda underline that the candidature combines the work of all nationalist and left-wing citizens that believe that another Europe is possible'. It also shows their intention of reinforcing the national plan that we have in these elections. The promoters of Herritarren Zerrenda underlined that we don't have any political wish at all to represent any other political body that exists in Basque society, but the wish to offer an open option to the population that is in line with the basic principles outlined. After this declaration of principles Sonia Gonz�ez and Sabino Cuadra insisted that Herritarren Zerrenda will totally respect the rest of the options. The first area that has been laid out by those behind HZ is that of organising the gathering of signatures around the whole of Euskal Herria in support of the candidature. Spanish electoral legislation demands that the support of thousands of signatures is required in order to be able to put forward a candidate in Nafarroa, Araba, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa as has been the case in previous elections in Euskal Herria. In spite the fact that French legislation doesn't establish this condition to be able to go forward the promoters of HZ decided it would be worthwhile extending the collection of signatures to Lapurdi, Nafarroa Beherea and Zubero as a way of gaining support for the initiative. This being so, we make a calling to all Basque citizens to participate in this massive campaign to collect a huge number of signatures that will continue until May 8 th , they added. The definitive make-up of the HZ candidature for the elections to the European Parliament will be known an event to be held on May 8 th . Among the promoters of the Herri Zerrenda candidature that met in Donostia we find the handball player Xabier Mikel Errekondo, the feminist Izaskun Guarrotxena, present Euro-deputy Koldo Gorostiaga, the writer Eva Forest, the former left wing councillor in Hendaia Robert Arranbide, the trade unionists Rafa D�z and Jer�imo Prieto, the bertsolari and agriculturist Mikel Altzuart, the former Lord Mayors Pablo Gorostiaga and Niko Moreno, the member of Askapena Walter Wendelin, the trade unionist Itziar Lopategi, the dramatist Alfonso Sastre, the surfer Kepa Acero and the actor Ram� Agirre, as well as members of the national executive Joseba Permach, Arnaldo Otegi, Ainara Armendariz, Xabi Larralde and Jean-Claude Agerre.