Bidegurutzea. The first split of ETA (1965-1967)

Abstract

Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (Basque Country and Freedom), better known by its initials ETA, was an organization, with a presence in Spain and France, that since 1958 sought the independence of the Basque Country and the construction of a socialist State, both by armed means and politics. Since 1963, two factions in ETA will emerge with different visions about the political direction to take: the "culturalists" and the "laborists". From the hegemonic domain of the "laborists" a third group will emerge: the "nationalist-revolutionaries". The struggles between these three factions will lead to open conflict during the 5th ETA assembly (1966-1967), in which ideological differences will trigger the organization's first split.