TELESFORO MONZON eLab / Euskal Herrigintza Laborategia

NAZIOMETROA

Barometer on Basque Sovereignty

naziometroa-logo

III. SURVEY 2021/11

KEY FINDINGS

PRESENTATION
THE BAROMETER ON BASQUE
SOVEREIGNTY – SUMMARY

NAZIOMETROA aims to analyse the opinions and perceptions of the people of Basque Country / Euskal Herria*, on questions of sovereignty, self-government, independence, and matters interconnected with these.

KEY FINDINGS

More than three quarters of Basques consider climate change to be a very serious problem at present

Eight out of ten respondents (80%) agree that climate change is a very or quite serious problem, while 13.4% believe it to be moderately serious, and 5.9% not a serious problem.

More than a third of Basques (35.8%) answered “9-10”, which signifies that they regard climate change as a very serious problem.

Majority of Basques believe that governments (both national or regional) are not doing enough

When asked whether if their national government is doing “enough”, “not enough” or “a lot” to tackle climate change, the majority of respondents (69.2%) believe that the government is not doing enough (“not enough” or “nothing”). On the other hand, about one in five respondents (21.7%) think the government is doing enough, and only 3.2% say it is doing a lot. The final group (5.9%) said they did not know.

When asked about local or regional governments, the responses were somewhat more positive.

Nevertheless, for the most part (59.1%) respondents say that their regional government is not doing enough (“not enough” or “nothing”). Nearly one in three respondents (29.7%) believe that the government is doing enough, and only 3.3% consider it is doing a lot. 7.9% did not know.

Most Basques (65%) are in favour of sharing responsibilities between the French/Spanish government and the government of their autonomous community to tackle climate change

Among those in favour of one government, more respondents prefer all powers to be in the hands of the regional government (21.3%) than under the control of the French or Spanish government (7.9%).

Something similar was observed when the people surveyed were asked to give their opinion on how an independent Basque State would rise to the challenge of climate change as compared to the current scenario. The largest group believes that it would respond in a similar fashion (41.5%). Among those who opted for one of the parties however, there are more who believe that an independent Basque State would do “better” or “much better” (33.2%) than those who believe that it would do “worse” or “much worse” (8.2%). Those who did not know accounted for 17% of the vote.

This is custom heading element

On the 10th anniversary of the “International Conference to Promote the Resolution of the Conflict in the Basque Country” and ETA’s announcement of the definitive cessation of its armed activity, we asked whether as a society the issue of the “Basque conflict” can be considered resolved or if there is still something to be rectified?

Two thirds were in favour of the second option (“It is not completely resolved, there are things to rectify” 64.8%) and 22.5% considered it to be completely resolved.

For Basques the main potential issues still to be actioned are, at the same level, the acknowledgement of the harm caused by both the patriotic left (ezker abertzalea) and by Spanish state and, a guarantee that torture does not happen again

Of the potential issues still to be actioned, no one single issue was highlighted by the respondents. Rather, the responses can be categorised into two main groups. The first, supported by 38-40% of Basques calls for the acknowledgement of the harm caused by both the patriotic left (ezker abertzalea) and by Spanish state and government. It also seeks a guarantee that torture does not happen again.

The second group (around 25-30%), is made up of “Reintegration of prisoners”, “Establishment of a dialogue between the Spanish/French Government and the Basque Autonomous Community/Community of Naforroa/North Basque Country Intermunicipal Community”, “Recognition of Euskal Herria’s right to decide”, and “That the Basque Autonomous Police (Ertzaintza) and Basque Government acknowledge the harm caused”.

The majority of Basque society values positively EHBildu’s statement of October 18th

With regard to EH Bildu’s recent statement making direct mention of the victims of ETA’s violence (“that pain should never have happened”), the majority of Basque society values this statement positively: 53.9% give it a score of 6 or higher, with an average of 6.14. On the other hand, those who do not value it at all account for 15.6%. Almost as many, (13.7%), have no opinion.

Majority believe Basques should have the right to decide their political future

Almost two thirds believe that both the Basque Autonomous Community, the Community of Nafarroa, and North Basque Country Intermunicipal Community should have the right to decide their political future. Those against are almost 20%.

These figures, after the ups and downs of Spring, are once again on par with the Naziometroa poll of November last year.

Majority of Basques in favour of an independent Basque State (40.5%) and 29.2% against

As observed in previous years, when the question about an independent Basque State is framed in a context of political consensus (“all or most of the political parties have agreed to hold a referendum on an independent Basque state, it has been approved by Madrid/Paris, and is therefore fully recognised and official”)  40.5% are in favour of an independent Basque State and 29.2% are against. This means that the pro-independence position is 11 points ahead of the position opposed to independence. This difference has increased by one point since the previous poll.

Naziometroa 3 2021/11 Complete dossier-ENGL

DOWNLOAD

Send link to:

Remember to check your SPAM tray just in case

TELESFORO

MONZON

eLab