Carlos Garaikoetxea

Carlos Garaikoetxa Urriza [ gaɾaikoe'tʃea ] ( born June 2, 1938 in Pamplona / Navarra in Spain ) is a Basque- Navarrese politician and lawyer. Garaikoetxea was from 1980 to 1985 Minister President of the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country ( Lehendakari ). He was a member of the Basque nationalist party PNV.

Garaikoetxea was the first official Prime Minister of the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country after the end of Franco's dictatorship. His tenure was therefore mainly characterized by the complete rebuilding of a previously non-existent government. He was involved in the transfer of various skills by the Spanish government to the Basque Country, such as the police Ertzaintza, the Basque Health Service Osakidetza, the Radio and Television EITB among others

Because of internal party disputes Carlos Garaikoetxea 1985 replaced as Lehendakari from PNV politician José Antonio Ardanza. In 1986, he then founded as a spin-off the PNV party Eusko Alkartasuna, which he chaired until 1999. From 1986 to 1999 he was a member of the Basque Parliament, and from 1987 to 1991 Member of the European Parliament.

In November 1999 Garaikoetxea withdrew from political life, the party was chaired by his successor Begoña Errazti.