Basque country: political power shift

The article studies the changes in political forces dislocation of the Basque country Spanish most developed and prosperous autonomous region with a high proportion of educated population. The author analyzes politics of the Basque nationalist party which for three decades headed the region's government and went into opposition only in May 2009. The power transfer to the coalition of socialists and conservatives changed the autonomy's political life. Nevertheless the situation remains rather tense due to the activities of the 'left Basque patriots' articulating radical nationalist demands and gathering around ETA. The shift in the balance of forces seriously influences the character and dynamics of the Basque conflict - the Basque country's radical nationalists' confrontation with the Spanish government and the moderate part of population over the issue of appropriateness of political territorial secession from Spain and determination of the region's preferable territorial status.