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Batera prepares new demonstration for Northern Basque Country autonomy

Organization calls against "disdain" and "discrimination" by France to the Basque people · 30th November March will ask for co-official status for the Basque language and for a "strong university pole"

Basque organization Batera is calling for a new mobilization for Northern Basque Country autonomy within France. Batera is also calling for a "strong university pole", co-official status for Basque and its own chamber of agriculture. The demonstration is to take place on November 30th in Maule (Mauléon, in French), and has been called five months after thousands of Basques demonstrated for their own territorial collectivity.

The Basque organization understands that, since then, French authorities have taken no step forward. Quoting "disdain" and "discrimination", Batera argues that "what can be possible" in other places of the French Republic should also be possible in the Basque Country. The organization considers that Iparralde (the name of the Northern Basque Country in Basque language) needs "institutional recognition" through the establishment of a Basque territorial collectivity.

The Northern Basque Country is currently included in the departament of the Atlantic Pyrenees, alongside Occitan Bearn region. Atlantic Pyrenees is one of five departments that make up the Aquitanian region.

The call for a Basque autonomous territory is not only shared by parties and organizations within the Basque national movement, but also by members of the largest French parties, by several organizations or elected representatives and by the Chamber of Comerce and Industry.