"The Spanish Government is playing a dirty game" - Basque PM

amplify image

Basque PM Juan Jose Ibarretxe during the interview for Gure Irratia. Photo: EiTB

Basque PM Juan Jose Ibarretxe denied on Thursday reports published by the Spanish daily El Pais that said that the armed Basque group ETA had informed "indirectly" of their aim not to commit attacks during the days previous to the vote of the Referendum Bill in the Basque parliament.

In an interview for Gure Irratia, Ibarretxe said that "the Spanish government and its satellites" are playing a "dirty game", something he said is unacceptable.

The Basque PM also blamed on the Spanish Government for that kind of reports and added their goal is to search confusion, acting as "professional liars".

Referendum bill

The Basque Parliament approved plans in June for a referendum next Oct.25. The referendum would put two questions to a vote. The first asks Basques if they favor a negotiated solution to the armed conflict if ETA is willing to end violence.

The second asks if they agree that all Basque political parties should work toward an agreement on what it calls Basques' right to decide their future and that this should be put to a second referendum before the end of 2010.

Ibarretxe first floated the idea late last year as part of a "road map" peace plan following the collapse of negotiations between the Spanish government and ETA.

In debate before Friday's vote, Ibarretxe denied the referendum was divisive, and insisted there is nothing wrong with simply asking people what they want.

The Spanish government has announced it will file a lawsuit with the Constitutional Court, which is Spain's highest.