Aberri Eguna, the Basque National Day falling on Eastern Sunday, was celebrated last weekend. The celebration has been influenced by the recent coalition government deal between PSE (Basque Socialists) and PP (Popular Party, Spanish conservatives), which will allow the Socialists to hold the lehendakaritza (Basque presidency) for the first time. Nationalist parties appealed for unity, but each one of them did so from different locations: the Basque Nationalist Party in Bilbao, Eusko Alkartasuna in Gernika, and the Forum of National Debate -a movement representing pro-independence social and political organizations and trade unions- from Hendaye (Northenrn Basque Country or French Basque Country) to Irun (Guipuzcoa) in its traditional foot march.

In Irun, spokeswoman for the Forum Maite Aristegi appealed for unity of Basque nationalists: "We cannot waste any time, we are a majority but we remain divided among us", EiTB reports. The march was sponsored by leftist pro-independence parties such as EA, Aralar, Abertzaleen Batasuna and Batasuna; LAB, HIRU and EHNE trade unions, and other organizations such as ESAIT, Pro-Amnesty Movement and Gazte independentistak

Further information:

• Forum of National Debate
• Gara: La izquierda abertzale se une a un Aberri Eguna "amplio y unificado"
  
• Europa Press: Foro de Debate Nacional celebrará un Aberri Eguna "conjunto" con apoyo de EA, Aralar, izquierda abertzale y LAB