Before the Spanish Constitution of 1978 and its system of autonomous communities, these three provinces were known in Spanish as the Provincias Vascongadas, an antiquated term still used by many. The political structure of the autonomous communities is defined in the Gernika Statute, which was approved in a controversial--and substantially boycotted--referendum on October 25, 1979. In 2003, the governing Basque Nationalist Party proposed to alter this statute through the Ibarretxe Plan. The project, though approved by majority in the Basque chamber, was rejected without debate in the Spanish Cortes.
The post-Franco Spanish Constitution of 1978 acknowleges "historical rights" and attempts compromise in the old conflict between centralism and federalism by the establishment of autonomous communities(e.g. Castile-Leon, Catalonia, Valencia, etc).
The provincial governments (diputación foral) were restored only in the Basque Country and Navarre, but many of their powers were transferred to the new government of the Basque Country autonomous community; however, the provinces still perform tax collection in their respective territories, coordinating with the Basque, Spanish and European governments.
Under this system the Diputaciones Forales (Basque: Foru Aldundiak) administer most of each of the provinces but are coordinated and centralized by the autonomous Basque Government (Basque: Eusko Jaurlaritza, Spanish Gobierno Vasco).
The seats of the Basque Parliament and Government are in Vitoria-Gasteiz, but the Statute of Autonomy of the Basque Country provides for their transference to Pamplona if Navarre ever decides to join the Basque Autonomous Community. The Parliament is composed of 25 representatives from each of the three provinces. The Basque Parliament elects the Lehendakari (President) who forms a government following regular parliamentary procedures. So far all Lehendakaris (even those in 1937 and during the exile) have been members of the Basque Nationalist Party (Eusko Alderdi Jeltzalea), moderate and Christian-Democrat since 1978. Despite their continuing leadership role, they have not always enjoyed majorities for their party and have needed to form coalitions with either pro-Spanish or more left-leaning pro-Basque parties, often governing in a difficult minority position.[[Citing sources citation needed]]
The current government, led by Juan José Ibarretxe (Eusko Alderdi Jeltzalea) is supported also by left-leaning nationalists of Eusko Alkartasuna (Basque Solidarity) and Communist-dominated Ezker Batua (United Left). Both non-regional parties, Partido Socialista Obrero Español (Spanish Socialist Workers' Party) and Partido Popular (People's Party) are again in the opposition as are the radical nationalists of the Basque National Liberation Movement. The radical nationalists ran this time under the umbrella of a new formation that included the Euskal Herrialdeetako Alderdi Komunista (Communist Party of the Basque Homelands).
The autonomous community has its own police force (the Ertzaintza), education and health systems, and a Basque radio/TV station. These and other powers under the Gernika Statute have recently transferred by Madrid. Many other powers remain in the Spanish State
Languages
Basque and Spanish are co-official in all territories of the Community, though in many instances, especially those that depend on the central Spanish Government, like tribunals, it is difficult to carry on bureaucracy or judicial processes in any language other than Spanish, although the PNV ("Partido Nacionalista Vasco" or Nationalist Basque Party) has been decidedly pursuing a language policy unambiguosly biased towards Basque during the last decades.
Territorial claims
The Statute provides for mechanisms for neighbour Navarre, which also has a Basque ethnic background and is claimed as the core of the nation by Basque Nationalists, to join the three western provinces if it wishes to do so. In such a case, the seat of the common administration would be moved to Pamplona.
The Basque Government used the "Laurak Bat", which included the arms of Navarre, as its symbol for many years. Yet tribunals ruled in favor of Navarre and the Basque Government replaced it with an empty red field.
But Navarre is just one of the territories that the Basque Country claims in democratic terms, two enclaves Treviño (Basque: Trebinu) and Villaverde de Trucíos (Basque: Trutzioz Billaberde), which are completely surrounded by Basque territory but belong to the neighbour communities of Castile-Leon and Cantabria respectively, are also claimed. In these cases with clear support by the affected populations.
Economy
The Basque Country is the wealthiest community of Spain, with GDP per capita being 20.6% higher than that of the European Union average in 2004 [link]
