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Juan José Ibarretxe

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Juan Jose Ibarretxe
Lehendakari of the Basque Country
In office
January 2, 1999 – May 7, 2009
Vice PresidentIdoia Zenerrutzabeitia Beldarrain
Preceded byJosé Antonio Ardanza
Succeeded byPatxi López
Deputy Lehendakari of the Basque Country
In office
January 4, 1995 – January 2, 1999
PresidentJosé Antonio Ardanza
Preceded byJon Imanol Azúa
Succeeded byIdoia Zenerrutzabeitia Beldarrain
Personal details
Born
Juan José Ibarretxe Markuartu

(1957-05-15) May 15, 1957 (age 67)
Llodio, Álava, Spain
Political partyPNV
SpouseBegoña Arregui

Juan José Ibarretxe Markuartu (born March 15, 1957)[1] is a Basque politician of Spain. A leading member of the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV), he was President (lehendakari) of Spain's Basque Country autonomous community from January 2, 1999 to May 7, 2009.

Ibarretxe (middle) at an event in San Sebastián

Origins and early political career

He was born in Llodio in the province of Álava, and holds a degree in Economics from the University of the Basque Country. In 1983 he was elected a member of the Basque Parliament for Álava, representing the PNV, and from then on rose steadily to prominence. From 1986-1990 and 1991-1994 he was the President of the PNV Economic and Budgetary Commission. On January 4, 1995 then Basque President José Antonio Ardanza appointed him Vice President.

Lehendakari

On March 28, 1998 he was nominated PNV presidential candidate to compete in the October 25 Basque election, and became lehendakari (president) on January 2, 1999. In October 2003 he released the highly controversial Ibarretxe Plan (Plan Ibarretxe), which foresees a future Basque country freely associated with Spain, with its own separate legal system and European Union (EU) representation.

Private life and hobbies

Ibarretxe grew up speaking only Spanish, but now speaks fluent Basque and English. He is an avid cycling fan and has presided over a cycling club in Llodio. He is married to Begoña Arregui, with whom he has two children. He is a non-practising Roman Catholic.

See also

References

  1. ^ IBARRETXE MARKUARTU Juan José International Who's Who. accessed September 1, 2006.
  • Dada, Kamil (January 25, 2008). "Basque leader's visit stirs protest". Stanford Daily.
  • New Opportunities for Peace in the Basque Area: A Discussion with Juan José Ibarretxe U.S. Institute of Peace, June 2006 (Audio, Remarks and Photos)
Preceded by Lehendakari (Basque President)
1999-2009 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Deputy Lehendakari (Deputy Basque President)
1995-1999 		Succeeded by
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