Le Parti Basque: the new brand with which the PNV eliminates "nationalist" in the French Basque Country to avoid associations with the far right

The PNV has decided to modify its image in the French Basque Country and stop using the reference to “nationalist” in its public name. From now on, the party will operate in Iparralde under the brand EAJ-LPB, acronym for Le Parti Basque, with the aim of getting closer to local society and avoiding ideological misunderstandings.

The change was presented in Bidart by the president of the Euzkadi Buru Batzar (Euzkadi Executive Commission), Aitor Esteban, who explained that in France the term “nationalist” is often associated with far-right movements and even collaborationism during World War II. He noted that this perception made it difficult for many citizens to approach the party.

Esteban wanted to emphasize that the modification only affects the brand and not the official name of the organization, which will continue to be EAJ, as it was conceived by the party's founder, Sabino Arana. The intention, he stated, is to maintain political identity while improving the ability to connect with Iparralde society.

The nationalist party has been present in the French Basque territory for decades, although in recent years it has strengthened its institutional presence. Its main recent success came with the conquest of the mayoral office of Cambo-les-Bains by Peio Etxeleku, considered one of the party's emerging figures in the area.

The brand relaunch coincides with a period of growth for the PNV in Iparralde, where it has around 150 members and achieved nearly 2,000 votes in the 2024 European elections. Subsequently, it also ran in the French legislative elections, consolidating its political presence in the territory.

The decision also reopens a historical debate within the party. In 2011, under the leadership of Iñigo Urkullu, the idea of replacing the term “nationalist” with “national” in the Spanish denomination was proposed, a proposal that was rejected by the militancy. Paradoxically, the PNV continues to use the denomination “Basque National Party” in English, maintaining the nationalist reference in its international projection.